Department for Transport

Train Operating Companies: Standards

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria her Department uses to assess whether a train operating company has provided an acceptable level of services for passengers.

Kevin Foster: The criteria the Department uses to evaluate the Performance-Based Fee are set out in the ERMA and NRC contracts.Specifically, this area falls under Operational Performance and Customer Experience/Customer Satisfaction and Service Quality within the overall Scorecard.

Railways: Passengers

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help rail companies ensure that passengers are not subject to unfair (a) costs and (b) overcrowded services.

Kevin Foster: The Government is taking decisive action to reduce the impact inflation will have on rail fares during the cost of living crisis and, in august, we guaranteed we will not be increasing fares by as much as the July RPI figure. We are also again delaying any change to March 2023, temporarily freezing fares for passengers to travel at a lower price for the entirety of January and February.Earlier this year we launched the Great British Rail Sale, the first ever nationwide rail sale. Over 1.3 million tickets were sold, offering around £7million worth of savings for passengers.There are also several railcards available to passengers which offer discounts against most rail fares.As the pandemic has changed travel habits, train operators are using this opportunity to reassess their services to ensure they provide rail timetables that meet new passenger travel patterns, are fit for the future, and carefully balance cost, capacity and performance.The new timetables are demand-led and built with flexibility in mind, so if passenger numbers increase as we continue to recover from the pandemic, we can look to accommodate additional services. Where operators have modified their timetables, the changes will be kept under review and, where appropriate, adjusted to reflect fluctuations in demand.

Railways: Tickets

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to announce (a) tender bidding, (b) the preferred bidder shortlist and (c) the preferred bidder selection for the new Consolidated Online Retail Solution for rail passenger ticketing.

Kevin Foster: Further details of the procurement will be announced in due course.

Armed Forces: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 13 October 2022 to Question 59432 on Armed Forces and Veterans: Railways, what appropriate verification of veteran status to gain free train travel for military personnel and veterans on remembrance includes.

Kevin Foster: Appropriate verification for Veterans seeking to use free rail travel to Remembrance events includes: the Ministry of Defence-issued Veterans ID, Veterans Railcard, Veterans Oyster photocard or other forms of identification, such as proof of pension. Station staff will be able to help Veterans who are unable to provide the listed forms of verification.Further information can be found on the National Rail website at the following link:https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/remembrance-sunday.aspx

Cars: Noise

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle cars which do not comply with noise suppression laws.

Katherine Fletcher: The police and local authorities have existing powers to tackle excessively noisy and illegally modified vehicles.To support enforcement efforts, the Department has commenced roadside trials of the latest ‘noise camera’ technology to understand if it can be an effective tool for the police and local authorities that will enable more targeted and efficient enforcement. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout.

Railways: North of England

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail on communities in the North of England.

Kevin Foster: Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will transform the railways of the North of England. NPR will see journey times cut and passenger capacity increased between the North’s major economic centres, bringing people and places closer together.The impact of different options for NPR on communities has been, and will remain, a key criteria in assessing different choices to deliver out commitment to it.The Government will continue to work closely with leaders across the North as it confirms further details on this transformational programme.

Strikes

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of implementing minimum service levels on (a) the number of and (b) the impact of strikes.

Kevin Foster: Minimum service levels will allow us to get the balance right between respecting the right strike, whilst ensuring passengers can make essential journeys to access healthcare, education and employment.

Strikes

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish further information on her proposals to introduce minimum service levels during strike action.

Kevin Foster: The Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 20 October 2022.The bill can be found here:https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3350The Explanatory notes can be found here:https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3350/publications

Railways: Tickets

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the establishment of a new single Consolidated Online Retail Solution (CORS) for rail passengers requires the formal establishment of (a) Great British Railways or (b) a new Transport Bill.

Kevin Foster: The Plan for Rail sets out our aim to improve rail online retail, ending the current confusion passengers face with multiple train operating company websites.We are continuing to work with the sector to tackle the challenges set out in the Plan for Rail, including improving online retail for the benefit of customers and will introduce rail reform legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Speed Limits

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will put in place guidelines for local authorities requiring them to base all local speed limits on traffic-engineering principles and not to impose lower speed limits merely as a local traffic deterrent or for other reasons.

Katherine Fletcher: Local traffic authorities are responsible for taking decisions about setting speed limits on their roads as they have the local knowledge making them the best placed to do so.The Department for Transport issues non-mandatory guidance to English local authorities on setting speed limits.Factors authorities are advised to take into account include history of collisions; road environment, geometry and engineering; road function and types of road users (including existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users); and existing traffic speeds.

Blue Badge Scheme: Urban Areas

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to take steps to make it easier for blue badge holders to park in town and city centres.

Kevin Foster: Responsibility for traffic management on local roads and the provision or restriction of on-street parking, rests with the relevant local authority as they are best placed to consider how to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local businesses and those who work in and visit the area. Local authorities are also responsible for ensuring their roads are managed in a way which meets the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010.The Blue Badge Scheme is a national scheme, the scope and legal parameters of which are set nationally by the Government. Blue Badges are recognised throughout the UK. The provisions granted under the Scheme convey several on-street parking concessions such as being able to park for up to three hours on yellow lines, provided there are no bans on loading or unloading in force, and free of charge and without time limit at on-street parking meters and pay-and-display areas.The Blue Badge is not, however, a licence to park anywhere. Badge holders are not entitled to park in places where it would cause an obstruction or danger to other road users otherwise, they may be prosecuted or have their badge withdrawn. The Department is currently not intending to make any changes to this.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Energy Bill Relief Scheme will cap the amount of (a) standing charges and (b) costs that gas and electricity suppliers can charge businesses; and whether that Scheme will cap profits of those suppliers.

Graham Stuart: Applying a price cap in the non-domestic market similar to the domestic market would be impractical, so the Government has designed an equivalent scheme that applies a discount on energy bills with reference to a Government-supported price. A robust audit, compliance and enforcement regime will be in place to ensure neither suppliers nor businesses will disproportionately gain from or be disadvantaged by the scheme.

Social Services: Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish further guidance on the Energy Bill Relief Scheme for adult social care providers and their suppliers of gas and electricity to improve clarity on the scheme's operation.

Graham Stuart: Guidance on the operation of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers.Further information will be provided in due course.

Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to provide additional support for businesses making long terms decisions in the context of the planned end of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme on 31 March 2023.

Graham Stuart: The Government is committed to carrying out a review of the operation of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme in order to inform decisions on future support after March 2023. The review will consider how effective the scheme has been in giving support to at risk non-domestic customers and which groups of non-domestic customers (by sector, size or geography) remain particularly at risk due to energy price rises, taking into account the latest price position and other cost pressures. The Government will publish the result of the review in January 2023.

Fracking

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the statement made by the Prime Minister in the House on 8 September 2022 that the Government would end the moratorium on shale gas extraction where there is local support, how his Department defines local support in that context.

Graham Stuart: The Government will come forward with proposals in due course.

Conditions of Employment

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if it remains his policy intention to implement a right to request more predictable contracts for all workers after 26 weeks of employment.

Dean Russell: The Government remains committed to introduce a right to request a more predictable contract. This right will allow a qualifying worker to make an application to change their existing working pattern if it lacks predictability in terms of hours they are required to work, the times they are required to work, and / or the duration of their contract.

Conditions of Employment

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it remains his policy to bring forward legislative proposals on employment status.

Graham Stuart: On 26 July 2022, the Government responded to its employment status consultation which explored a wide range of employment status legislative proposals.The response concluded that while the Government recognised the boundaries between the different statuses can be unclear for some individuals and employers, the benefits of a fundamental overhaul of the employment status system were outweighed by the potential disruption associated with legislative reform.Alongside the Government response, the Government published guidance to help clarify the existing employment status boundaries, making it easier for business to comply with existing regulations and for individuals to understand which employment protections apply to them.

Knives: Retail Trade

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) retailers and (b) Cabinet colleagues on the adequacy of guidance on displaying pumpkin carving kits in retail settings.

Dean Russell: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with (a) retailers or (b) Cabinet colleagues on the guidance on pumpkin carving kits in retail settings.

Electricity: Housing

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department is providing for (a) electricity-only households and (b) those with inefficient Economy 7 storage heaters which require upgrades.

Graham Stuart: The Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) is delivering a £400 non-repayable government discount. Electricity suppliers are delivering this support to British households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October 2022. The Department will closely monitor the impact of prices on consumption over the months ahead and is actively considering how storage heaters are affected by the scheme.

Veterans: Bankruptcy

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many veterans were declared bankrupt in each month of 2022.

Dean Russell: Information on the number of veterans declared bankrupt is not available.

Energy: Prices

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to consumers in (a) Lancashire and (b) England of gas transmission costs as a proportion of total energy costs.

Graham Stuart: Gas transmission charges for the North West region under the Ofgem price cap for October 2022 are £14.32 per domestic customer per year based on typical gas consumption levels (excluding VAT). This compares to a Great Britain-wide average of £15.75. Gas transmission charges represent less than 1% of a typical domestic dual fuel energy bill.

Offshore Industry: North Sea

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will launch a public consultation on the issuing of new licenses for oil and gas in the North Sea to the north of 55.81 degrees north.

Graham Stuart: The Government completed an Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (OESEA4) of a draft plan/programme for licensing and leasing areas for future offshore energy developments including offshore oil and gas, offshore gas and carbon dioxide storage, offshore renewables, and offshore hydrogen, in relevant waters of the UK Continental Shelf. Public consultation on the OESEA4 Environmental Report took place between 17 March and 27 May 2022. The Government response to the OESEA4 consultation was published in September 2022 and the plan/programme was adopted in September 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/uk-offshore-energy-strategic-environmental-assessment-4-oesea4.

Help to Grow Schemes: Digital Technology

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the expected annual (a) current and (b) capital expenditure on Help to Grow: Digital will be in each financial year of that scheme; and if he will place that information in the House of Commons Library.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the expected annual (a) current and (b) capital expenditure on Help to Grow: Management will be in each financial year of that scheme; and if he will place that information in the House of Commons Library.

Dean Russell: We intend to publish data on costs of both the Help to Grow programmes on the GOV.UK website by Spring 2023.

EU Law

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Retained EU Law Bill, whether any pieces of legislation covered by Clause 1 are not included on the Government's dashboard of Retained EU Law.

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with regard to the Retained EU Law Bill, whether any pieces of legislation included on the Government's dashboard of Retained EU Law are not covered by Clause 1 of that Bill.

Dean Russell: All retained EU law (REUL) listed in the dashboard that falls under the definition of EU-derived subordinate legislation and retained direct EU legislation, is in scope of the sunset established by clause 1 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.Any REUL listed in the dashboard that is primary legislation is not subject to any sunset in the Bill. REUL not in scope of the sunset will be assimilated into the domestic statute book, by the removal of the special EU law features previously attached to it.The dashboard presents an authoritative, not comprehensive, catalogue of REUL. Therefore, there may be some legislation that is covered by clause 1 of the Bill that is not yet captured in the dashboard. The Government will continue to identify additional REUL and update the dashboard on a quarterly basis to reflect this.

Fuel Poverty

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what percentage of people in England were in fuel poverty in each of the last five years.

Graham Stuart: The Department publishes annual statistics on the percentage of households in fuel poverty in England, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics.

Property: Ownership

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the information published in the Registers of Scotland, if HM Land Registry will publish official statistics on the country of origin of (a) corporate and (b) individual property owners in England and Wales broken down by (i) type of interest and (ii) local authority.

Dean Russell: HM Land Registry holds information on the legal owner of registered estates. This may be a corporate or an individual proprietor. HM Land Registry notes the country of incorporation for overseas companies in its Land Register. It does not hold information on the nationality of individuals. While some individuals have provided non-UK correspondence addresses, this does not necessarily indicate nationality. HM Land Registry is unable to provide a breakdown of the many interests and estates in registered land. Published information on overseas companies that own property in England and Wales is accessible here: https://use-land-property-data.service.gov.uk/datasets/ocod.

Energy Bills Rebate

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on fairness of households which have different energy suppliers for their (a) home and (b) garage and receive two Energy Bill Support Scheme payments as a result; and whether he will take steps to prevent this from occurring.

Graham Stuart: It is possible for individuals to benefit more than once from EBSS, where an individual is responsible for separate domestic contracts relating to more than one property.

Energy Prices Bill

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to Annex A of the Explanatory Notes to the Energy Prices Bill, published on 12 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cost-plus revenue limit facility on (a) private and (b) public sector investment in renewable energy.

Graham Stuart: The mechanics of the temporary Cost-Plus Revenue Limit will be subject to a consultation to be launched shortly, with final details to be announced and an Impact Assessment conducted ahead of regulations coming into force from the start of 2023. The Government will set a price that is fair for consumers, taxpayers and industry, recognising the need to ensure the design reflects generators’ investment commitment and risk. Under the scheme, generators will retain entitlements under the Renewables Obligation and Capacity Market.

Small Businesses: Energy Bill Relief Scheme

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential ability of small and medium size businesses to (a) produce medium term business plans and (b) obtain finance in the context of uncertainty around energy costs beyond 31 March 2023 end date of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.

Graham Stuart: The Government has announced unprecedented support within its Growth Plan to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme are supporting millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs, and they will continue to do so from now until April next year. As the Prime Minister and Chancellor set out on 17 October, the Government will be looking at exactly how it can focus support for those in need beyond April 2023, while reducing costs to the taxpayer. The Government will set out more detail in due course.

Housing: Energy

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure off-grid homes are protected by the energy price cap.

Graham Stuart: Households not on standard gas or electricity contracts, such as those off-grid, will receive equivalent support to that provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and the Energy Price Guarantee. The Government is working at pace to determine the most practical and tested routes to deliver this support. As part of this, for households who do not use gas for domestic heating, the Government has committed to provide an additional payment of £100 to compensate for the rising costs of other fuels such as heating oil.

Energy Bills Rebate: Hostels

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government's energy rebate scheme that is provided to domestic consumers will also be made available to (a) YMCA and (b) other housing charities which have a centralised contract for energy in their hostels.

Graham Stuart: For all eligible non-domestic customers, including businesses and those in the public and voluntary sector, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide a discount on energy bills for those organisations whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This includes establishments such as youth hostels and housing charities on non-domestic tariffs, and the Government expect such establishments to pass on the benefits under the scheme through to the people who live in this kind of accommodation in a reasonable and proportionate way.

Energy: Prices

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what additional support he is providing for (a) young and (b) vulnerable people who live in (i) hostels and (ii) supported accommodation with energy costs within their personal service charge.

Graham Stuart: The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will provide a discount on energy bills for all eligible non-domestic customers whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. This includes establishments such as hostels and supported accommodation on non-domestic tariffs. The Government expect such businesses to pass on the benefits under this scheme to the people who live in this kind of accommodation in a reasonable and proportionate way.

Charities: Energy

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what targeted support he is providing to charities to help with the rising cost of energy.

Graham Stuart: The Energy Bill Relief Scheme was announced on 21 September 2022, initially running for 6 months covering energy use from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023. The Government will provide a discount on energy bills for all eligible non-domestic customers, including businesses, the voluntary sector and public sector, whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices.

Ofgem

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of abolishing Ofgem.

Graham Stuart: The law requires Ofgem, as the expert independent regulator to enforce Supply Licence Conditions and ensure consumers are treated fairly. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced a review of energy regulation on 8 September and more details will be published shortly.

Hydrogen: Carbon Emissions

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled UK Hydrogen Strategy, published in August 2021, what recent steps his Department have taken to meet the target of achieving 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

Graham Stuart: The Government is supporting multiple production technologies, including both electrolytic and carbon capture (CCUS)-enabled hydrogen production, by providing capital support through the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) and revenue support through the Hydrogen Business Model (HBM). The first window for joint support under these policies for electrolytic hydrogen production closed on 12 October and the Government has committed to run further annual allocation rounds. CCUS-enabled hydrogen projects have been invited to bid through the Phase-2 Cluster Sequencing process. These policies support the Government’s aim to have up to 2GW of hydrogen production capacity in construction or operational by 2025.

Renewable Energy: Hydrogen

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to expand the production of green hydrogen using electrolysis.

Graham Stuart: The Government have doubled its ambition to up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, subject to affordability and value for money. At least half of this will come from electrolytic hydrogen, for which the Government is aiming to run annual allocation rounds.The first round, offering support from our Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (capital funding) and from the Hydrogen Production Business Model (revenue support) closed on 12 October. A second allocation round is planned for launch in 2023.

Hydrogen

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled UK Hydrogen Strategy published in August 2021, what steps his Department has taken to implement that paper's proposals.

Graham Stuart: The Government published the UK Hydrogen Strategy Update to Market in July 2022, which fully outlines substantial Government progress against the proposals in the UK Hydrogen Strategy and intends to publish two updates to the market each year. The Government launched the first allocation round for electrolytic hydrogen projects, offering joint Hydrogen Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund support, and selected four hydrogen projects to proceed to the due diligence stage of the Phase-2 Cluster Sequencing process.

Hydrogen: Transport

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether she plans to take steps to increase the use of hydrogen for transport.

Graham Stuart: This Department continues to work closely with the Department for Transport on hydrogen, which is important in decarbonising aviation and maritime and can offer flexible options for buses and heavy goods vehicles. The Government is already supporting options for the use of green hydrogen across road freight, buses, trains, maritime and aviation to support the development of a thriving UK hydrogen economy – including through the £200m Zero Emission Road Freight Demonstrator programme, the £206m UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), and the £20m phase two funding of the UK’s first multi-modal transport hub in the Tees Valley.

Green Homes Grant Scheme: Sefton

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to continue offering the Green Homes Grant LAD2 Scheme in Sefton.

Graham Stuart: Delivery of LAD2 in the North West Region, including Sefton, was due to close in March 2022, it was extended to 30th September and has now closed.

Natural Gas: National Grid

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of households off of the mains gas grid in (a) each parliamentary constituency, (b) each council area and (b) the UK.

Graham Stuart: BEIS publishes the numbers of domestic properties not connected to the gas network down to Local Authority level. This includes properties where a gas grid connection is possible but no connection has been made. These estimates state that 4,128,000 (14 per cent) of domestic properties are not connected to the gas network in Great Britain. Equivalent data is available at Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA) and Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) levels, but not by constituency or council area. For Northern Ireland, data on gas connections is available via the Annual Retail Energy Market Monitoring report.

Energy Bills Rebate: Park Homes

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made on establishing the Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Fund; and when park home residents are likely to receive the £400 payment.

Graham Stuart: The Government is working urgently with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, as well as Devolved Administrations and across UK Government, to finalise the details and have the process up and running for applications this winter

Heating: Government Assistance

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress he has made on developing the Alternative Fuel Payments scheme for non-domestic consumers who are not able to receive support for their heating costs through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme; and that when support will be delivered.

Graham Stuart: Further details on support for off-grid businesses and on the design of the scheme will be provided shortly.

Wind Power

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether cooperatively owned wind farms be exempted from the revenue cap in the Energy Prices Bill.

Graham Stuart: The Government recognises the role community and locally owned renewable energy schemes can, and do, play in supporting the UK’s national net zero targets.  These projects help encourage innovation and investment as well as community engagement with the energy challenge. The Government will shortly be consulting on the Cost- Plus Revenue Limit and the issue of having a minimum threshold for size of generation stations will be considered as well as whether it is appropriate for this mechanism to apply to community or local energy schemes.

Energy: Prices

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled £400 energy bills discount to support households this winter, published on 29 July 2022, what his timescale is for setting out details of the equivalent support that will be available for people who are not eligible for the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Graham Stuart: The Government is working urgently with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, as well as Devolved Administrations and across UK Government, to finalise the details and have the process up and running for applications this winter.

Energy Bills Rebate

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to announce further details on the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund for those without a domestic electricity contract.

Graham Stuart: The Government is working urgently with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, as well as Devolved Administrations and across UK Government, to finalise the details and have the process up and running for applications this winter

Energy Prices Bill

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to page nine of the Explanatory Notes to the Energy Prices Bill, published on 12 October 2022, with which interested bodies his Department held discussions on the cost-plus revenue facility; and when these discussions took place.

Graham Stuart: The Government has spoken to a wide range of interested bodies about the temporary Cost-Plus Revenue Limit and will invite further engagement through an appropriate consultation, to be launched shortly. The Government has held a series of confidential discussions with a range of low-carbon generator companies who will be directly affected by the policy, as well as with a wider group of generators, retail suppliers, and investors, including via the trade bodies RenewableUK and Energy UK. Discussions have been ongoing since the beginning of September 2022.

Energy: Meters

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he is taking steps with energy companies to ensure customers do not experience issues with signal to smart meters.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an estimate of the number of energy customers experiencing problems with signal to their in-home energy smart meters.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department provides to energy customers who receive incorrect bills due to faulty readings caused by signal loss on an in-home energy smart meter.

Graham Stuart: The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements. Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.

Energy Bills Rebate: Park Homes

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how park home residents will be able to access the £400 support for energy bills that will be provided to consumers not reached through the Energy Bills Support Scheme; and when he plans to make that support available.

Graham Stuart: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for St Albans on 22nd September to Question 48498.

Energy Bills Rebate: Fuel Oil

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (a) how and (b) when households which use heating oil will be able to access (i) the equivalent of £400 support for energy bills being provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme and (ii) the additional £100 payment to compensate for the rising cost of heating oil.

Graham Stuart: The Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) delivers a £400 non-repayable discount to households with an electricity meter. For those not on standard gas or electricity contracts the EBSS Alternative Fund will provide equivalent support. We are working quickly with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, as well as Devolved Administrations and across UK Government, to finalise the details and have the process up and running for applications this winter. The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) will provide a one-off payment of £100 to households that use alternative fuels for heating instead of mains gas. Eligible households in Great Britain will receive £100 credit on their electricity bill this winter.

Drax Power

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports that Drax has paid more than $3 million in fines related to pollution in the US south, and if he will review Government support for Drax.

Graham Stuart: US air quality regulatory bodies have established robust processes for ensuring air quality requirements are adhered to. UK Government officials have discussed air quality with US counterparts and continue to liaise with them to ensure the government continues to have the most up-to-date information.The forthcoming Biomass Strategy will review the amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK and how this resource could be best utilised across the economy to help achieve our net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 while also supporting the delivery of our wider environmental targets.

Hydrogen

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made in developing hydrogen since the publication of the UK Hydrogen Strategy in August 2021, CP 475; and if he will make a statement.

Graham Stuart: Since publishing the UK Hydrogen Strategy, the Government has doubled its ambition from 5GW to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030 - subject to affordability and value for money. The first electrolytic allocation round opened in July, offering support from our Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and the Hydrogen Business Model. In August, four CCUS-enabled hydrogen projects were selected to proceed to due diligence as part of the Government’s plan for industrial clusters. The “Hydrogen Strategy Update to the Market” was published in July and summarises government policy development and delivery since the publication of the strategy.

Hydrogen

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to promote the production of green hydrogen by using (a) sailing ships to harness the power of the wind and (b) other innovative methods of production.

Graham Stuart: The UK Hydrogen Strategy sets out government’s ambition to support a variety of low carbon hydrogen production methods, including electrolytic and CCUS-enabled hydrogen, alongside innovative hydrogen production methods. The Government welcomes UK innovation towards this ambition. As part of the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, the Government is providing £60m in funding for innovation work on the supply of hydrogen and £55m for fuel switching which includes switching processes to hydrogen power. The Government is committed to working with industry to identify, support and then develop credible innovative hydrogen production technologies.

Business Premises: Solar Power

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of compulsory solar panels on new commercial buildings.

Graham Stuart: The Government is encouraging businesses to install solar panels on their roof stock, for example through business rate exemptions and tax relief. However, a blanket requirement to deploy solar photovoltaic panels on every roof is impractical. Some roofs are not suitable because of shading, orientation and location. In December 2021 Government introduced an uplift in energy efficiency standards for new builds, which came into force on 15 June 2022.

Nuclear Installations: Ukraine

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2022 to Question 54467 on Nuclear Installations: Ukraine, when (a) he and (b) his predecessors held discussions with Ukrainian government officials on the security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities in the period since February 2022.

Graham Stuart: My predecessors, the Ministerial Team and I maintain regular engagement with our Ukrainian colleagues following the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and its reckless actions against nuclear facilities. Discussions were held in February, March, June, August and September.

Geothermal Power

Cherilyn Mackrory: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether geothermal energy will be allocated a budget minima in the Auction Round 5 of the Contracts for Difference Scheme.

Graham Stuart: The Government is currently considering auction parameters for all technologies for Allocation Round 5 of the Contracts for Difference scheme, including any for geothermal, taking into account evidence of the pipeline of available projects. The Government will publish details of these parameters ahead of the round opening in March 2023.

Renewable Energy

Cherilyn Mackrory: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the draft budget for Auction Round 5 of the Contracts for Difference Scheme will be published.

Graham Stuart: A draft timeline for Allocation 5 is available on the Contracts for Difference microsite.[1]The Government will publish details of auction parameters, including the final budget, ahead of the round opening in March 2023.  [1] https://www.cfdallocationround.uk/publications/draft-allocation-round-5-timeline

Geothermal Power

Cherilyn Mackrory: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his department has taken to support the British geothermal industry.

Graham Stuart: The Government supports the development of geothermal projects provided it can be done at an acceptable cost to consumers. The most promising use of geothermal energy in the UK is for heat applications such as in district heating network schemes. The Government is supporting the development of low carbon heat networks and thereby building its capability to harness heat from sources such as geothermal energy. Electricity generated from geothermal heat is able to bid into the Contracts for Difference scheme.

Energy Bills Rebate: Rural Areas

Richard Foord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he will take to ensure the energy bill discount reaches ruralhouseholds off the gas and electricity grids.

Graham Stuart: The Alternative Fuel Payment will provide a one-off payment to UK households that use alternative fuels for heating. This will come in addition to the £400 provided by the Energy Bills Support Scheme, and a further £800 of one-off support provided to eight million of the most vulnerable households to help with the cost of living.

Fracking

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department plans to take to measure local consent for fracking.

Graham Stuart: The Government will come forward with proposals in due course.

Attorney General

Cammell Laird: Strikes

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Attorney General, what discussions (a) Ministers, and (b) senior officials in his Department had on the 1984 Cammell Laird shipyard dispute between 1997 and 2007 with (i) other Government departments, (ii) representatives of the GMB trade union, and (iii) other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Tomlinson: In respect of discussions within Government, by convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside of Government. This protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice.In respect of discussions between the then Attorney Generals and officials and those outside of Government, I can confirm that we have no record of any discussions in relation to the 1984 Cammell Laird shipyard dispute between 1997 and 2007.

Department of Health and Social Care

Mental Health Services: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The NHS Long Term Plan stated the aim of increasing the mental health workforce in England by an additional 27,000 professionals by 2023/24. NHS England and Health Education England are working with local integrated care systems, including in the Humber, Coast and Vale Integrated Care System, to confirm plans for service models, supply, retention and recruitment until 2024.NHS England continues to support local systems, including in Humber, Coast and Vale Integrated Care System, to develop tailored health and wellbeing offers to meet the needs of the local mental health workforce. This includes mental health hubs in each integrated care system and occupational health services which are being supported through the Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing national programme.

Perinatal Mortality: Coroners

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2022 to Question 150276 on Coroners: Perinatal Mortality, when her Department plans to publish their response to the Consultation on Coronial Investigations of Stillbirths.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Government’s response to the consultation on coronial investigations of stillbirths has been delayed. We are working to publish the response to the consultation as soon as possible.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prescriptions

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing people diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis to access a medical exemption card.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Perinatal Mortality: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Ealing North constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the NHS dentist provision in Stockport constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in Ealing North constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Ealing North constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of dental practices were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Slough as of September 2022.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of GP surgeries were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Slough as of September 2022.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Liverpool Wavertree

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Liverpool Wavertree.

Paula Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people with eating disorders in Liverpool Wavertree.

Dr Caroline Johnson: In September we announced ‘Our Plan for Patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health and eating disorder services, including in Liverpool Wavertree. Making it easier to access general practice through our ABCD priorities will expand this route as a gateway to mental health care.Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand these services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Liverpool Wavertree. We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness, including eating disorders, by 2023/24 and an additional £53 million per year in children and young people's community eating disorder services to increase capacity in the 70 community eating disorder teams.

Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services

Robert Courts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the report of the Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services, published on 19 October 2022; and if she will make a statement.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency in each of the last 5 years.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electronic Cigarettes: Children

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make it her policy to increase the level of fines for underage sales of vaping products.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electronic Cigarettes: Health Education

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she will take steps to support the vaping awareness campaigning entitled VApril in April 2023.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vaccine Taskforce

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the expected annual (a) current and (b) capital expenditure on the Vaccines Taskforce will be in each financial year of that project; and if he will place that information in the House of Commons Library.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Diabetes: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in Wirral South constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Maternity Services

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by the Baby Loss and Maternity All Party Parliamentary Groups entitled Safe Staffing: The impact of staffing shortages in maternity and neonatal care, published on 13 October 2022, what assessment she has made of the implications of that report's findings for her Department's policies; and if she will take steps to support (a) a reduction in the rates of baby loss, (b) increased provision of specialist bereavement care following pregnancy loss and the death of a baby and (c) sufficient and safe staffing levels for maternity services.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in Walsall South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Walsall South constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Walsall South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Ealing North constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Perinatal Mortality: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Walsall South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HIV Infection: Nottingham South

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with HIV in Nottingham South constituency in each of the last 5 five years.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Evusheld

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has (a) sought and (b) received advice from immunologists on the effectiveness of Evusheld.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Diabetes: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in Worsley and Eccles South constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Malnutrition: Streatham

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Streatham constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Midwives: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of midwives in Worsley and Eccles South constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Slough.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in Worsley and Eccles South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Streatham

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Streatham constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgery: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Worsley and Eccles South constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electronic Cigarettes

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the application of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 to include non-nicotine vaping products.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electronic Cigarettes

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of introducing a licencing scheme for the sale of e-cigarettes on (a) the Government's objective for England to be smokefree by 2030 and (b) preventing the underage sale of e-cigarettes; and if she will make a statement.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in Garston and Halewood.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electronic Cigarettes

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she is taking steps with the Devolved Administrations on developing a consistent approach to vaping regulations as part of her Tobacco Control Plan for England.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgery: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Garston and Halewood.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HIV Infection: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with HIV in Wirral South constituency in each of the last 5 five years.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Podiatry: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made (a) podiatry vacancy rates in the NHS in Halton constituency and (b) the impact these vacancies will have on patient treatment for diabetic foot complications.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Malnutrition: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Wirral South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies on trends in the level of life expectancy in Worsley and Eccles South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgery: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of cancelled operations in Exeter constituency in the past 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vaccination

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when her Department will publish the Government's Vaccine Strategy.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of FTE fully qualified GPs (excluding GPs in Training Grade) practicing in Exeter (a) as of 19 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Midwives

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England has spent on agency midwives in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Muscular Dystrophy: Research

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 27 September 2022 to Question 51448, on Muscular Dystrophy: Research (a) whether the NIHR plans to fund research into the cause and potential treatments for Distal Myopathy-5 and ADSSL1 Myopathy and (b) if she will make an assessment of research being undertaken in other countries into this disease.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Doctors

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England spent on agency doctors in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of GP appointments in Exeter conducted face-to-face in (a) the last 12 months and (b) 2013.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Wirral West

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Wirral West constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of GP appointments in Exeter constituency (a) in the last 12 months and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Surgery: Wirral West

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Wirral West constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nutrition: Health Education

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help promote the health benefits of milk and other dairy products.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in the City of Durham constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Wirral West

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in Wirral West constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HIV Infection: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with HIV in Exeter constituency in each of the last 5 five years.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Wirral West

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the NHS dentist provision in Wirral West constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: Stretford and Urmston

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Stretford and Urmston constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Wirral West

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Wirral West constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Breast Cancer: Bradford South

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Bradford South constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Shropshire

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in Shropshire.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Gastrointestinal System: Surgery

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2022 to Question 49137 on Gastrointestinal System: Surgery, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of patients living with (a) colostomy, (b) ileostomy and (c) urostomy following their operation.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Monkeypox: Publicity and Vaccination

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide (a) vaccines against monkeypox and (b) accurate public information on monkeypox.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Eating Disorders: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people with eating disorders in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of NHS dentist provision in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Neurology: Waiting Lists

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of Integrated Care System plans to address the current backlog for neurology services in England.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Exeter constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Malnutrition: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Exeter constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of (a) four and (b) 11 were admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction due to decay in Exeter constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

General Practitioners: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in the City of Durham constituency.

Will Quince: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) financial and (b) other steps her Department is taking to help tackle NHS workforce shortages in Sunderland Central constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in Sunderland Central constituency since 2010.

Neil O'Brien: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Stretford and Urmston

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Stretford and Urmston constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Life Expectancy: Newham

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to (a) improve life expectancy and (b) address disparities in life expectancy between different (i) age groups, (ii) ethnic groups and (iii) genders in Newham.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Eating Disorders: West Ham

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data her Department holds on the prevalence of eating disorders among residents of West Ham constituency by (a) gender, (b) ethnic group and (c) age.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Monkeypox: Disease Control

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of naming a person responsible for the UK response to monkeypox.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Midwives: Nottingham South

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of midwives in Nottingham South constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of care homes were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Washington and Sunderland West as of 12 October 2022.

Neil O'Brien: As at 12 October 2022, 13 or 76.5% of care homes in the Washington and Sunderland West constituency are rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘good’ overall.

Healthy Start Scheme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether discussions have taken place between her officials and representatives from Mastercard on the potential for the introduction of an automatic registration scheme for households eligible for Healthy Start support.

Dr Caroline Johnson: There have been no specific discussions.

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Pharmacy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve supplies of HRT medications in pharmacies.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The majority of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, including alternatives to those experiencing supply issues, are available. We have been working with suppliers and stakeholders such as the National Health Service and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency maintain overall supply to pharmacies, including expediting resupply dates of disrupted products. We continue to hold discussions with suppliers, wholesalers and community pharmacists to discuss any challenges and ensure that supply meets demand.Access to in-demand products has improved since Serious Shortage Protocols on HRT products were issued to limit dispensing to three months’ supply to maintain distribution and allow alternative products to be dispensed, as necessary. We welcome plans by suppliers to build additional capacity, such as a new production facility for Oestrogel and to introduce new products to the United Kingdom.

Life Expectancy: Chesterfield

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Chesterfield constituency.

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Chesterfield constituency.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of her policies on trends in the level of life expectancy in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policies on trends in the level of life expectancy in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Leeds North West constituency.

Kate Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Jarrow constituency.

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Warrington North constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services in all areas and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Social Services: Bradford East

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Bradford East constituency.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Tooting constituency.

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Ealing North constituency.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made. Local authorities have a responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that the care needs of the local population are met.

Social Services: Employment

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to fill adult social care vacancies in England; and what steps she is taking to improve (a) pay and (b) contractual terms and conditions in that sector.

Neil O'Brien: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring there is sufficient workforce capacity to meet the care needs of the local population.The majority of care workers are employed by private sector providers which set their pay and terms and conditions, independently of central Government. Local authorities work with care providers to determine fee rates, which should take account of wage costs, based on local market conditions.

Care Homes: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in Walsall South constituency in each six month period in the last two years.

Neil O'Brien: There has been one care home deactivation in Walsall South constituency in the last two years, which took place between 1 April and 30 September 2021.The Care Quality Commission records care homes which have closed as ‘deactivated’. The ‘deactivated’ locations exclude care homes where the provider continues to operate under a new, separate registration. This could be due to a legal entity change or a change in the provider.

Social Services: Finance

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take steps to ensure there are no cuts to the level of spending on adult social cares services.

Neil O'Brien: The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2022/23 makes available an additional £3.7 billion to councils, including £1 billion for social care. The provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2023/24 will be published as soon as possible.

Breast Cancer: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

Breast Cancer: Greater London

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate she has made of the rate of uptake of breast cancer screening services by ethnicity among (a) people living in boroughs served by Barts Health NHS Trust and (b) residents of the London borough of Newham.

Will Quince: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Diabetes: Bradford South

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in Bradford South constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The following table shows the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Bradford South constituency in each year from 2016 to 2020, by diabetes type. Type 1Type 2 and other201625485201725470201815465201920545202015390 Source: National Diabetes Audit (NDA)Note:A person may have more than one diabetes diagnosis within the NDA. In this case, an algorithm is used to derive the best diagnosis date and diabetes type for each person.Disclosure control has been applied to all figures, as per the NDA publication – all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5, unless the number is 1 to 7, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’.Diabetes type is reported as ‘type 1’ and ‘type 2 and other’ within the NDA. ‘Type 1’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 1 diabetes in the NDA. ‘Type 2 and other’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 2 diabetes, Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young, other or non-specified diabetes in the NDA.

Diabetes: Nottingham South

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with diabetes in Nottingham South constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: The following table shows the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in Nottingham South constituency in each year from 2016 to 2020, by diabetes type.Type 1Type 2 and other201620350201710380201815335201920355202020335 Source: National Diabetes AuditNotes:A person may have more than one diabetes diagnosis within the National Diabetes Audit. In this case, an algorithm is used to derive the best diagnosis date and diabetes type for each person.Disclosure control has been applied to all figures, as per the National Diabetes Audit publication – all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5, unless the number is 1 to 7, in which case it is rounded to ‘5’.Diabetes type is reported as ‘type 1’ and ‘type 2 and other’ within the National Diabetes Audit. ‘Type 1’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 1 diabetes in the National Diabetes Audit. ‘Type 2 and other’ includes where a person is recorded as having type 2 diabetes, Maturity-onset Diabetes of the Young, other or non-specified diabetes in the National Diabetes Audit.

General Practitioners: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in Sunderland Central constituency.

Will Quince: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’, published in February 2022, stated the ambition to reduce patient backlogs for planned National Health Service treatments and the Government plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25. We made £520 million available to expand general practice capacity during the pandemic. This was in addition to at least £1.5 billion announced in 2020 by 2024 which includes supporting increased workloads in general practitioner (GP) surgeries, including in Sunderland Central. In September 2022, ‘Our plan for patients’ announced measures to support GP practices increase access and manage workloads, such as the provision of 31,000 phone lines and funding to expand the staff roles working in general practice, including in Sunderland Central.

Social Services: Finance

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she will take to disburse the £500 million committed by the Government to adult social care.

Neil O'Brien: The Department is currently finalising the details of the Adult Social Care Discharge Fund, including determining how the funding will be allocated and disbursed. Further information will be available in due course.

Social Services: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Sunderland Central constituency.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Leeds North West constituency.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made. Local authorities have a responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that the care needs of the local population are met.

Care Homes: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of care homes were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Slough as of September 2022.

Neil O'Brien: As of 1 September 2022, 11 or 73.3% of care homes in the Slough constituency are currently rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘good’ overall.

Social Services: Recruitment

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she will take to disburse the £15 million committed to by the Government for the international recruitment of people into the adult social care sector.

Neil O'Brien: The Department is currently finalising the details of this funding and further information will be available in due course.

Skin Cancer: Sunbeds

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of sunbed use on the development of melanoma.

Will Quince: The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) published advice on the health effects and risks from ultraviolet (UV) sunbeds in 2009, which is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304609/COMARE13thReport.pdfCOMARE’s report confirmed that UV radiation from sunbeds was capable of inducing skin cancer, including melanoma and that young people were particularly vulnerable.

General Practitioners: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has provided additional (a) financial and (b) other support to help tackle (i) patient backlogs and (ii) increased workloads in GP surgeries in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Will Quince: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’, published in February 2022, stated the ambition to reduce patient backlogs for planned National Health Service treatments and the Government plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25. We made £520 million available to expand general practice capacity during the pandemic. This was in addition to at least £1.5 billion announced in 2020 by 2024 which includes supporting increased workloads in general practitioner (GP) surgeries, including in York. In September 2022, ‘Our plan for patients’ announced measures to support GP practices increase access and manage workloads, such as the provision of 31,000 phone lines and funding to expand the staff roles working in general practice, including in York.

General Practitioners: Brentford and Isleworth

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will make an estimate of the number of full-time equivalent fully qualified GPs, excluding GPs in a training grade, that were practicing in the London Borough of Hounslow on (a) 14 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Life Expectancy: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of (a) the effectiveness of the family history breast cancer screening service at Barts NHS Health and (b) the impact of the restriction on eligibility for this service for patients over the age of 60.

Will Quince: The familial history breast cancer screening service at Barts Health NHS Trust follows the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s clinical guidelines for patient eligibility for screening and surveillance, with approximately 85% to 90% attendance from those invited.The clinic aims to screen people for breast cancer linked to family history from 40 to 60 years old and follows national guidelines on when patients should be discharged from the service. At the age of 60 years old, patients are discharged from the service to the National Health Service breast screening programme, which offers three-yearly screening.

Breast Cancer: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in the City of Durham constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

General Practitioners: Greater London

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GPs who had been previously working in North East London ICS area have left the profession over the last three years.

Will Quince: This information is not collected in the format requested.

General Practitioners: City of Durham

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in the City of Durham constituency.

Will Quince: On 22 September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which contains measures to assist people make an informed choice on their general practitioner (GP) practice, book an appointment more easily, benefit from more care options and increase the diversity of general practice teams. This aims to increase the availability of appointment types, such as face-to-face, in England, including in City of Durham. NHS England’s guidance states that GP practices must provide face to face appointments and remote consultations and should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.  While remote consultations can provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for patients, this is not suitable for all patients or in all circumstances.

Life Expectancy: Lancaster and Fleetwood

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Dental Services: Brentford and Isleworth

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of (a) four and (b) 11 were admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction due to decay in Brentford and Isleworth constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: This information is not held in the format requested.

General Practitioners: Brentford and Isleworth

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will make an estimate of the number of GP practices that were open in Brentford and Isleworth constituency (a) on 14 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: In September 2013, there were 22 practices registered in Brentford and Isleworth, with 20 practices registered in October 2022.Practices close for a variety of reasons, including practice mergers or retirement. A reduction in practice numbers does not mean a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed and advised to register at another local practice of their choice. Practices and commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that affected patients have access to general practitioner services.

General Practitioners: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Sunderland Central constituency.

Will Quince: On 22 September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which contains measures to assist people make an informed choice on their general practitioner (GP) practice, book an appointment more easily, benefit from more care options and increase the diversity of general practice teams. This aims to increase the availability of appointment types, such as face-to-face, in England, including in Sunderland Central. NHS England’s guidance states that GP practices must provide face to face appointments and remote consultations and should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.  While remote consultations can provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for patients, this is not suitable for all patients or in all circumstances.

Life Expectancy: Bradford South

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Bradford South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Dental Services: East Yorkshire

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current NHS dental provision in the East Yorkshire constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made. However, NHS England asked dental practices to return to full delivery of contracted activity from July 2022, including in East Yorkshire. In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in East Yorkshire.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

General Practitioners: Streatham

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate her Department has made of the number of GP practices that were open in Streatham constituency (a) on 19 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: In September 2013, there were 18 practices registered in Streatham, with 12 practices registered in October 2022.Practices close for a variety of reasons, including practice mergers or retirement. A reduction in practice numbers does not indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice closes, patients are informed and advised to register at another local practice of their choice. Practices and commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that affected patients have access to general practitioner services.

Life Expectancy: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Maternity Services: Finance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press notice by the NHS entitled NHS announces £127 million maternity boost for patients and families, published on 24 March 2022, how much and what proportion of the £50 million to boost staffing numbers in maternity and neonatal services has been released to each NHS trust as of 10 October 2022; what estimate she has made of when the remaining funds will be released; and what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the progress that has been made in distributing this funding.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press notice by the NHS entitled NHS announces £127 million maternity boost for patients and families, published on 24 March 2022, how much and what proportion of the £34 million for (a) local maternity systems, (b) culture and leadership development programmes and (c) supporting staff retention roles has been released to each NHS trust as of 10 October 2022; what estimate she has made of when the remaining funds will be released; and what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the progress that has been made in distributing this funding.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The £50 million funding will be allocated during an 18 month period from the second half of 2022/23 and in 2023/24. For maternity services, trusts were invited to develop plans and bid for funding for obstetric leadership capacity, bereavement midwives and maternity support workers, with other funding allocated to projects such as return to midwifery programmes and international recruitment. For the neonatal services, Operational Delivery Networks worked with trusts to develop plans for the workforce. Allocations have been agreed and funding for 2022/23 will be released in November, with further allocations in early 2023/24.The direct allocation of funding for local maternity and neonatal systems was increased by £6.5 million following the announcement of this additional funding. Resources have also been provided for specific projects to improve local maternity care, such as enhanced continuity of carer providing targeted support for the most vulnerable groups of women.The Perinatal Culture and Leadership Programme has funding of £2.8 million and is on schedule to have engaged all maternity and neonatal services in England by March 2024. We have allocated £8.3 million for staff retention and trusts are using this funding to ensure that enhanced supernumerary support can be offered to newly qualified and returning midwives and pastoral support to the midwifery workforce.

Life Expectancy: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Warrington North constituency.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of life expectancy in Bradford South constituency.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Life Expectancy: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in the level of healthy life expectancy in the Easington constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

Breast Cancer: Chesterfield

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Chesterfield constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

Perinatal Mortality: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Weaver Vale constituency.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. The Government’s national maternity safety ambition aims to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries in babies occurring during or soon after birth, by 2025. Since 2010, the rate of stillbirths has reduced by 19.3%, the rate of neonatal mortality for babies born over 24 weeks gestational age of viability has reduced by 36% and maternal mortality has reduced by 17%.We have introduced targeted interventions to accelerate progress, such as the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the Brain Injury Reduction Programme. NHS England has also invested £127 million in National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care. This is in addition to the £95 million investment made in 2021 to fund the establishment of a further 1,200 midwifery and 100 consultant obstetrician posts. NHS England is offering funding and support to trusts to recruit an additional 300 to 500 overseas midwives in the next 12 months.

Monkeypox: Vaccination

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she has taken to ensure that there is an adequate supply of monkeypox vaccinations.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has procured over 150,000 doses of the vaccines used for monkeypox. Further doses are expected to arrive in the United Kingdom by the end of October 2022.There have been global issues with the ongoing supply of the vaccines due to availability and the necessary time needed for manufacturers to produce the vaccines. In order to maximise the number of people who can be vaccinated, more clinics will offer the vaccine using intradermal administration, a safe and clinically approved approach. The UKHSA is monitoring demand and remains in discussions with the manufacturer to procure further doses as required.

General Practitioners: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of GP practices open in Exeter constituency (a) in October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: There were 15 practices registered in Exeter in September 2013 and in October 2022.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an estimate of the average waiting time for an ambulance in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: The information is not available in the format requested. Ambulance response times are measured by response time category. The following table shows the mean average ambulance response times in hours, minutes and seconds in England for Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 incidents in each year since August 2017.  Category 1Category 2Category 3Category 4August 2017 to March 20180:08:230:25:511:04:361:30:322018/190:07:180:21:471:01:461:25:422019/200:07:180:23:501:11:041:26:092020/210:07:030:20:570:54:411:22:512021/220:08:390:41:182:13:393:07:10April to September 20220:09:080:48:512:38:093:15:20 Source: NHS Ambulance Quality Indicators.

PA Consulting Group

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will provide a breakdown of the payments made by her Department to PA Consulting Services Ltd on 12 July 2022; and publish the (i) contracts to which those payments are associated and (ii) details of the process by which those contracts were agreed.

Robert Jenrick: One payment was made by the Department to PA Consulting Services Ltd on 12 July 2022 of £576,000, including £96,000 VAT. The contract relating to this payment is available at the following link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81f04aa0-6625-4095-8964-fb42eb66c86fThis contract was called off from a Crown Commercial Service framework agreement RM6187, which involved a mini-competition where suppliers on the framework received a tender for the work.

Surgery: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Exeter constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Exeter. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Finasteride

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of potential disruption to the supply of finasteride.

Robert Jenrick: Stocks of finasteride tablets currently remain available.The Department works with NHS England, the devolved administrations, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the pharmaceutical industry and others operating in the supply chain, to prevent shortages and expedite resupply where possible.

General Practitioners: Blackburn

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full time equivalent fully qualified GPs (excluding GPs in training grade) were practicing in Blackburn in September 2022; and how many there were in September 2013.

Will Quince: The information is not held in the format requested.

Perinatal Mortality: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Easington constituency.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of her policies on trends in the level of perinatal mortality in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. The Government’s national maternity safety ambition aims to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries in babies occurring during or soon after birth, by 2025. Since 2010, the rate of stillbirths has reduced by 19.3%, the rate of neonatal mortality for babies born over 24 weeks gestational age of viability has reduced by 36% and maternal mortality has reduced by 17%.We have introduced targeted interventions to accelerate progress, such as the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the Brain Injury Reduction Programme. NHS England has also invested £127 million in National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care. This is in addition to the £95 million investment made in 2021 to fund the establishment of a further 1,200 midwifery and 100 consultant obstetrician posts. NHS England is offering funding and support to trusts to recruit an additional 300 to 500 overseas midwives in the next 12 months.

Care Homes: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in Warrington North constituency since 2010.

Neil O'Brien: Since April 2010, five care homes in Warrington North constituency have been ‘deactivated’.The Care Quality Commission records care homes which have closed as ‘deactivated’. These ‘deactivated’ locations exclude care homes where the provider continues to operate under a new, separate registration. This could be due to a legal entity change or a change in the provider.

General Practitioners: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in the Easington constituency.

Will Quince: We are working with NHS England, Health Education England and the profession to increase the general practice workforce in England, including in Easington. This includes measures to improve recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice.The updated GP Contract Framework announced a number of new schemes, alongside continued support for existing recruitment and retention schemes for the general practice workforce. This includes the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the National GP Induction and Refresher, the Locum Support Scheme, the New to Partnership Payment and the Supporting Mentors Scheme. General practitioners in Lancashire and South Cumbria also have access to the national GP Career Support Hub. It provides information, guidance and support on career development, learning, mentoring, appraisals, career options and flexibility, wellbeing, pay and pensions.

Breast Cancer: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Sunderland Central constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

Dental Services: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children under the age of (a) four and (b) 11 were admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction due to decay in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency in each of the last five years.

Will Quince: This information is not held in the format requested.

Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology: Health Services

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the level of prioritisation of multiple sclerosis and neurology within the strategic planning documents of each of England’s 42 Integrated Care Systems.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made. The majority of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care commissioned locally by integrated care boards. NHS England commissions the specialised elements of MS care for those with more complex health needs.

Mental Health Services: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people with eating disorders in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: In September we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health and eating disorder services, including in Washington and Sunderland West. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand NHS mental health and eating disorder services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Washington and Sunderland West.We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness. including eating disorders, by 2023/24 and an additional £53 million per year in children and young people's community eating disorder services to increase capacity in the 70 community eating disorder teams.

Breast Cancer: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Wirral South constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

Social Services: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Garston and Halewood constituency.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Slough constituency.

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of social care capacity in Reading East constituency.

Neil O'Brien: No specific assessment has been made. Local authorities have a responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to ensure that the care needs of the local population are met.

Mental Health Services: Lewisham Deptford

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in Lewisham, Deptford constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The NHS Long Term Plan stated the aim of increasing the mental health workforce in England by an additional 27,000 professionals by 2023/24. NHS England and Health Education England are working with local integrated care systems, including in South East London, to confirm plans for service models, supply, retention and recruitment until 2024.NHS England continues to support local systems, including in South East London, to develop tailored health and wellbeing offers to meet the needs of the local mental health workforce. This includes mental health hubs in each integrated care system and occupational health services which are being supported through the Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing national programme.

General Practitioners: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Will Quince: On 22 September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which contains measures to assist people make an informed choice on their general practitioner (GP) practice, book an appointment more easily, benefit from more care options and increase the diversity of general practice teams. This aims to increase the availability of appointment types, such as face-to-face, in England, including in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. NHS England’s guidance states that GP practices must provide face to face appointments and remote consultations and should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.  While remote consultations can provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for patients, this is not suitable for all patients or in all circumstances.

General Practitioners: Blackburn

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP practices were open in Blackburn in September 2022; and how many there were in September 2013.

Will Quince: In September 2013 there were 23 practices registered in Blackburn, with 18 practices registered in September 2022.Practices close for a variety of reasons, including practice mergers or retirement. A reduction in practice numbers does not mean a reduction in the quality of care. When a practice does close, patients are informed and advised to register at another local practice of their choice. Practices and commissioners must put in place appropriate measures to ensure that the affected patients have access to general practice services.

Dental Services: South East

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2022 to Question 41978 on Dental Services: South East, how much of the funding available for the South East was spent by (a) Brighton and Hove City Council, (b) East Sussex County Council and (c) West Sussex County Council; and how many and what proportion of (i) practices applied for this funding and (ii) unique patients were children in each of these local authorities.

Will Quince: The information requested is not held centrally. However, total expenditure was £14,172,074, of which £1,044,439 was spent in the South East region.

Dental Services: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of dental practices were rated as good by the Care Quality Commission in Ealing North constituency as of 13 October 2022.

Will Quince: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not currently rate providers of primary dental care services.  The CQC publishes an assessment against five ‘key aspects’ which determine whether a dental provider is meeting its regulatory requirements. These are: - Treating people with respect and involving them in their care;- Providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs;- Caring for people safely and protecting them from harm;- Staffing ; and- Quality and suitability of management. The CQC provides online information for the public to find local dentists and profiles, which display the regulatory performance and inspection reports.

Dental Services: Wakefield

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Wakefield constituency.

Will Quince: In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Wakefield.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

Malnutrition: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Ealing North constituency.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in (a) York and (b) York Central constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Dental Services: Stretford and Urmston

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Stretford and Urmston constituency.

Will Quince: In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Stretford and Urmston.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

General Practitioners: Ilford North

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will take steps to increase the availability of face-to-face GP appointments in Ilford North constituency.

Will Quince: On 22 September 2022, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which contains measures to assist people make an informed choice on their general practitioner (GP) practice, book an appointment more easily, benefit from more care options and increase the diversity of general practice teams. This aims to increase the availability of appointment types, such as face-to-face, in England, including in Ilford North. NHS England’s guidance states that GP practices must provide face to face appointments and remote consultations and should respect preferences for face-to-face care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.  While remote consultations can provide additional choice, flexibility and convenience for patients, this is not suitable for all patients or in all circumstances.

Health Promotion Taskforce

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Health Promotion Taskforce will meet before the end of 2022.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Government has agreed an updated Cabinet committee structure to deliver its priorities. The committees can discuss a range of policy areas relevant to its terms of reference. The Health Promotion Taskforce is not a part of this updated structure.However, as set out in ‘Our plan for patients’, this will include addressing preventable ill-health by collaboration across the Government and the National Health Service.

Life Expectancy

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it remains her policy to narrow the gap in health life expectancy by 2030 by addressing wider determinants of health.

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter sent to her by the Inequalities in Health Alliance on 30 September 2022, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities.

Dr Caroline Johnson: ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, including improving access to health and care services in all areas and preventing ill-health. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.

NHS: Complaints

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department takes to ensure that it adequately captures institutional learning from (a) cases that are referred to the PHSO or (b) serious cases which are managed at a NHS provider or commissioner level.

Will Quince: Responsibility for learning from complaints which are either escalated to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) or managed at National Health Service provider level is managed by the relevant NHS organisation. The Department has worked with the PHSO on the NHS Complaints Standards to support NHS organisations in providing a faster and simpler complaint handling service, with a focus on early resolution of complaints. The Standards also emphasise the importance of senior leaders regularly reviewing any learning which can be taken from complaints and how this should be used to improve services.

Healthy Start Scheme: Telephone Services

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many calls the Healthy Start helpline received in each of last six months for which data is available.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The following table shows the number of calls to the Healthy Start helpline in each month from April to September 2022.MonthNumber of callsSeptember 2022322,351August 2022334,180July 2022297,852June 2022372,036May 2022426,480April 2022215,358

Mental Health Services: Bury South

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Bury South constituency.

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support young people with eating disorders in Bury South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: In September we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health and eating disorder services, including in Bury South. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand NHS mental health and eating disorder services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Bury South.We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness. including eating disorders, by 2023/24 and an additional £53 million per year in children and young people's community eating disorder services to increase capacity in the 70 community eating disorder teams.

Healthy Start Scheme: Telephone Services

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for service users calling the Healthy Start helpline in each of the last six months for which data is available.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The following table shows the average speed of answer and longest waiting times in hours, minutes and seconds for service users calling the Healthy Start helpline in each month from April to September 2022. Average speed of answerMaximum waiting timeSeptember 202200:00:2700:16:40August 202200:00:0700:10:27July 202200:00:2600:19:13June 202200:14:0100:58:50May 202200:14:3800:55:09April 202200:22:1402:00:00

Health: Females

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions her Department has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Research on improving women’s health research since the publication of the Women’s Health Strategy.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Department is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). to deliver the research commitments in the Women’s Health Strategy. The NIHR is currently commissioning a Policy Research Unit on reproductive health to commence from January 2024.

Health Services: Females

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department has taken to improve information provided on women’s health in non-digital formats.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The National Health Service publishes a number of information leaflets on a range of medical conditions and topics. These are generally available within hospital or primary care settings or in prominent locations. Patients may also be given information during clinics or at appointments. Charities also provide health related material which is made available in a variety of public settings. Targeted campaigns may also provide specific information relating to women’s health.

Malnutrition: Chesterfield

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Chesterfield constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Malnutrition: Ellesmere Port and Neston

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Mental Health Services: Rotherham

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to mental health services in Rotherham constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: In September we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will increase access to National Health Service mental health services, including in Rotherham. Through the NHS Long Term Plan, we are investing an additional £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24 to expand NHS mental health services for adults, children and young people in England, including in Rotherham. We will invest approximately £1 billion in community mental health care for adults with severe mental illness.

Malnutrition: Bradford South

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Bradford South constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Malnutrition: Leeds North West

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Leeds North West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Malnutrition: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Warrington North constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Obesity: Children

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps she is taking to help reduce levels of childhood obesity in (a) Halton (b) Cheshire West and Chester.

Dr Caroline Johnson: We are working with the food industry to ensure people can make healthier choices and increase progress on the reformulation of foods. In addition, there is a range of support to help children living with obesity to achieve and maintain a healthier weight.The North West Children and Young People Obesity Group, chaired by the North West Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, is working alongside the Children and Young People NHS Transformation North West Programme and Children with Complications of Excess Weight Clinics to develop plans to reduce levels of childhood obesity in the region.

Malnutrition: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Malnutrition: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of malnutrition in Washington and Sunderland West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made.

Contraceptives: Young People

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure young people have access to high quality reproductive healthcare, including the full range of contraceptive methods.

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she plans to take to maintain the right of women to access high quality reproductive healthcare, including the full range of contraceptive methods.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Women’s Health Strategy set out a system-wide approach to women’s reproductive health which supports individual choice through the development of local pathways to improve access to services, such as women’s health hubs. The Strategy encourages local commissioners and providers to consider adopting these models of care. We have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded Birmingham, RAND Europe and Cambridge Rapid Evaluation Centre to undertake a scope for an evaluation of existing women’s health hubs. This is expected to conclude in early 2023.We will set out further plans to improve sexual and reproductive health in England in due course.

General Practitioners: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of GP appointments in Washington and Sunderland West constituency in the past 12 months; and what the number was in 2013.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of GP appointments in Washington and Sunderland West constituency conducted face-to-face in the past 12 months; and what the figure was in 2013.

Will Quince: This information is not collected in the format requested. In the 12 months to August 2022, there were 18.5 million general practice appointments in the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System area, excluding COVID-19 vaccinations. Of these, 68.1% were conducted face-to-face.

Females: Health Services

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Women's Health Strategy for England published on 30 August 2022, which said that women meet barriers in accessing the contraceptive method of their choice due to siloed commissioning, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle siloed commissioning.

Dr Caroline Johnson: The Women’s Health Strategy set out a system-wide approach to women’s reproductive health which supports individual choice and the development of local pathways to improve access to services, including contraceptive services, such as through women’s health hubs.The Strategy encourages local commissioners and providers to consider adopting these models of care. We have commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded Birmingham, RAND Europe and Cambridge Rapid Evaluation Centre to undertake scoping work for an evaluation of existing women’s health hubs. This is expected to conclude in early 2023.

Surgery: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Wirral South constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Wirral South. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Surgery: Walsall South

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Walsall South constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Walsall South. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Surgery: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Slough constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Slough. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Care Homes: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of residential care homes that have closed in Wirral South constituency since December 2019.

Neil O'Brien: There have been no care home closures in Wirral South constituency since December 2019.The Care Quality Commission records care homes which have closed as ‘deactivated’. The ‘deactivated’ locations data excludes care homes where the provider continues to operate under a new, separate registration. This could be due to a legal entity change or a change in the provider.

General Practitioners: Lancaster and Fleetwood

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of GPs in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency.

Will Quince: We are working with NHS England, Health Education England and the profession to increase the general practice workforce in England, including in Lancaster and Fleetwood. This includes measures to improve recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice.The updated GP Contract Framework announced a number of new schemes, alongside continued support for existing recruitment and retention schemes for the general practice workforce. This includes the GP Retention Scheme, the GP Retention Fund, the National GP Induction and Refresher, the Locum Support Scheme, the New to Partnership Payment and the Supporting Mentors Scheme. General practitioners in Lancashire and South Cumbria also have access to the national GP Career Support Hub. It provides information, guidance and support on career development, learning, mentoring, appraisals, career options and flexibility, wellbeing, pay and pensions.

Pharmacy: Isle of Wight

Bob Seely: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans her Department has to expand the range of services available from pharmacies on the Isle of Wight; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of her proposals for the range of services provided by pharmacies on public healthcare provision on the Isle of Wight.

Will Quince: The Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2019-2024 sets out how community pharmacy will be integrated into the National Health Service, deliver more clinical services and provide treatment and advice for minor illnesses. Since 2019, services such as minor illness referrals from NHS 111 and general practitioners and blood pressure checks have been introduced.In September, the Government announced the agreement with the sector for the remainder of the five-year deal including a one-off investment of £100 million. Under the agreement, we will further expand the range of clinical services offered in community pharmacy. Community pharmacists will manage and initiate contraception and provide additional support to patients newly prescribed antidepressants. Urgent emergency care settings will be able to refer patients to a community pharmacist for a minor illness consultation or an urgent medicine supply. In addition, integrated care boards or NHS England’s regional teams can commission pharmaceutical services and local authorities can commission community pharmacies to provide public health services.

NHS: Standards

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she will take to support improved face to face feedback to patients and families.

Will Quince: Each National Health Service organisation is responsible for dealing with the complaints it receives. Whilst face-to-face feedback to patients and families is not a specific requirement, the arrangements made must ensure that complainants are treated with respect and courtesy and that assistance or advice on how to obtain assistance to understand the procedure is available. Face-to-face support could also be available from the NHS Complaints Advocacy Service.

Dental Services: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the NHS dentist provision in Slough constituency.

Will Quince: No specific assessment has been made. In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Slough.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

Dental Services: Ealing North

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help improve access to NHS dental services in Ealing North constituency.

Will Quince: In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including in Ealing North.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

Breast Cancer: Slough

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the uptake of breast cancer screening in Slough constituency.

Will Quince: The Department is working with NHS England to finalise the delivery of £10 million for breast screening units, including determining which areas will benefit from this investment.National Health Service breast screening providers are also encouraged to work with Cancer Alliances, Primary Care Networks, NHS regional teams and the voluntary sector to promote the uptake of breast screening and ensure access to services.

Strokes: Health Education

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of the (a) BE FAST mnemonic used in the United States and (b) the FAST test used in the UK in assisting members of the public in detecting symptoms of stroke.

Will Quince: There are no plans to make a comparative assessment. Internal analysis of the Act FAST campaign for stroke suggests that the campaign has delivered 4,400 additional thrombolysis treatments since its launch in 2009.

General Practitioners: Bradford South

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will make an estimate of the number of full-time equivalent and fully qualified GPs, excluding GPs in a training grade, that were practising in Bradford South constituency (a) on 14 October 2022 and (b) in 2013.

Will Quince: This information is not collected in the format requested.

Members: Correspondence

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the average amount of time it takes her Department to respond to correspondence from MPs; and if she will take steps to improve that response time.

Robert Jenrick: The Department aims to reply to correspondence within 20 working days. We have approximately doubled our response times since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022 to date, our performance is 45.2%. We are committed to improving this further.

Dental Services: Batley and Spen

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2022 to Question 62167 on Dental Services: Batley and Spen, for what reason Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency was referenced in her Answer; and what estimate she has made of the number of dental practices in Batley and Spen which returned to full delivery of contracted activity by July 2022.

Will Quince: This was an inadvertent administrative error and we have arranged for the record to be corrected.

Sepsis: Diagnosis

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help ensure rapid diagnoses of sepsis in adults and children.

Robert Jenrick: Screening, diagnosis and treatment of deterioration from infection, including from sepsis, is supported in all healthcare settings by use of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). In England, the NEWS2 tool has been deployed in 98.4% of acute trusts and 100% ambulance trusts.Infection diagnostic pathway improvement is central to NHS England’s antimicrobial resistance programme. The Office of the Chief Scientific Officer is examining how to accelerate adoption of innovations in diagnostics and apply point-of-care testing to ensure optimal prescribing of antimicrobials in clinical settings, including for the detection of sepsis in adults and children.

Podiatry: Kingston upon Hull East

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the level of podiatry vacancy rates in the NHS in Kingston upon Hull East constituency as of 12 October 2022; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of these vacancies on patient treatment for diabetic foot complications.

Robert Jenrick: No specific estimate has been made as this information is not collected in the format requested.

Surgery: Sunderland Central

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Sunderland Central constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Sunderland Central. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Perinatal Mortality: Stretford and Urmston

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Stretford and Urmston constituency.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of trends in rates of perinatal mortality in Leeds North West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: No specific assessment has been made. The Government’s national maternity safety ambition aims to halve the 2010 rates of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and brain injuries in babies occurring during or soon after birth, by 2025. Since 2010, the rate of stillbirths has reduced by 19.3%, the rate of neonatal mortality for babies born over 24 weeks gestational age of viability has reduced by 36% and maternal mortality has reduced by 17%.We have introduced targeted interventions to accelerate progress, such as the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle and the Brain Injury Reduction Programme. NHS England has also invested £127 million in National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care. This is in addition to the £95 million investment made in 2021 to fund the establishment of a further 1,200 midwifery and 100 consultant obstetrician posts. NHS England is offering funding and support to trusts to recruit an additional 300 to 500 overseas midwives in the next 12 months.

Surgery: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Health: Nottingham South

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Nottingham South constituency.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Wirral South constituency.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Streatham constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, such as improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health, including in Nottingham South, Streatham and Wirral South. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities also works with services in these areas to support programmes, including providing evidence and intelligence.

Ambulance Services: Isle of Wight

Bob Seely: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Plan for Patients on access to ambulances on the Isle of Wight.

Bob Seely: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Plan for Patients on hospital bed capacity on the Isle of Wight.

Robert Jenrick: No specific assessment has been made. However, ‘Our plan for patients’ and the National Health Service plan for winter resilience set out plans to increase capacity for winter 2022/23, including in the Isle of Wight. NHS bed capacity will be increased by the equivalent of at least 7,000 general and acute beds to reduce waiting times for admission from accident and emergency and ambulance handover delays and improve ambulance response times. This is in addition to £150 million allocated to address ambulance service pressures in 2022/23 and a £20 million investment to upgrade the ambulance fleet. ‘Our plan for patients’ also announced a £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund, to safely discharge people who are ready to leave hospital and increase bed capacity.

Abortion: Telemedicine

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure young people (a) can access and (b) retain the legal right to consent to early medical abortion via the telemedicine pathway.

Dr Caroline Johnson: In March 2022, Parliament voted in favour of making the temporary approval allowing home-use of both pills for early medical abortions a permanent measure for women and girls in England and Wales. The Department continues to work with abortion providers and other stakeholders on the provision of services, including ensuring timely access to all abortion services.The Abortion Act 1967 does not set a legal age limit for access to early medical abortion via the telemedicine pathway. The Department commissioned the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to develop independent safeguarding guidance for children and young people under 18 years old accessing early medical abortion services.

Arikayce Liposomal: Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Arikayce liposomal will be made available on the NHS for patients with non-tuberculosis mycobacteria; and if she will make a statement.

Robert Jenrick: NHS England is concluding a prioritisation process which will determine whether Arikayce (nebulised amikacin) treatment for patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria will be made available. Further information will be available in due course.

Health: Exeter

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Exeter constituency.

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Tooting constituency.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to help tackle health inequality in Leeds North West constituency.

Dr Caroline Johnson: ‘Our plan for patients’, published on 22 September, sets out the immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives, such as improving access to health and care services and preventing ill-health, including in Exeter, Leeds North West, Tooting and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituencies. Further information on measures to address health disparities will be available in due course. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities also works with local system partners in these areas, including providing evidence and intelligence.

Midwives: Bristol East

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of midwives in Bristol East constituency.

Robert Jenrick: While NHS England retain oversight of local workforce plans and are updated on vacancy rates, recruitment and retention is undertaken at trust level.In 2022, NHS England has invested a further £127 million in the National Health Service maternity workforce and improving neonatal care, including in Bristol East. This is in addition to £95 million invested in 2021 to fund the establishment of posts for a further 1,200 midwives and 100 consultant obstetricians.The NHS People Plan has been developed to focus on improving the retention of NHS staff by prioritising staff health and wellbeing. In 2022/23, £45 million has been invested in to support the continuation of 40 mental health hubs, the Professional Nurse Advocates programme and expanding the NHS Practitioner Health service.

Protective Clothing: Contracts

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of personnel currently employed to resolve PPE-related contractual disputes.

Robert Jenrick: There are currently 19 members of staff working on contract dissolution.

Surgery: Wirral South

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of cancelled operations in Wirral South constituency in the past 12 months.

Robert Jenrick: This information is not held in the format requested.

Surgery: Worsley and Eccles South

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for elective surgeries in Worsley and Eccles South constituency.

Robert Jenrick: The ‘Delivery plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care’ how the National Health Service will recover and expand elective services over the next three years, including in Wakefield. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity. This funding aims to deliver the equivalent of approximately nine million additional checks and procedures and 30% further elective activity by 2024/25 than pre-pandemic levels. A proportion of this funding will be invested in workforce capacity and training and we have committed to invest £5.9 billion for new beds, equipment and technology.The target to eliminate waiting times of two years or more for elective procedures was met in July 2022 and we aim to eliminate waiting time of eighteen months or more by April 2023. This will be achieved through increasing capacity, seeking alternate capacity in other trusts or the independent sector and engaging with patients to understand choices made regarding their care.

Dentistry: Cornwall and Devon

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to increase the number of dentistry schools in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall.

Will Quince: There are no current plans to increase the number of dental schools in Devon or Cornwall.The Department is working with Health Education England (HEE) and NHS England to consider options to increase training capacity in areas of need, such as the centres for dental development as proposed in HEE’s ‘Advancing Dental Care Review’.

Dental Services: Isle of Wight

Bob Seely: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of her Plan for Patients on the availability of dental services on the Isle of Wight.

Will Quince: In September, we announced ‘Our plan for patients’, which outlines how we will meet oral health needs and increase access to dental care, including on the Isle of Wight.The plan includes improvements to ensure dentists are renumerated fairly for more complex work, allowing greater flexibility to reallocate resources and to utilise dentists with greater capacity to deliver National Health Service treatment, whilst enabling full use of the dental team. The plan also includes streamlining processes for overseas dentists and holding the local NHS to account for dentistry provision. In addition, Health Education England is also reforming dental education to improve the recruitment and retention of dental professionals.

Health Services: Standards

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that clinical decisions made in health settings are (a) co-produced where possible and (b) involve patients and their families.

Will Quince: We are supporting the National Health Service to provide patients with the information they need to make decisions about their care.In response to Baroness Cumberlege’s Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review in July 2021, the Government is implementing recommendations to improve how the health system responds to concerns raised by patients. We will publish an update on progress in due course. In September 2022, Dr Henrietta Hughes commenced the role of Patient Safety Commissioner in England.We are also ensuring that all patients have the information and opportunities to engage in making informed decisions about their care. NHS England has established a shared decision-making board, which includes the provision of 11 decision support tools for patients.

Protective Clothing: Contracts

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of PPE-related contracts still in active dispute.

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate she has made of the outstanding balance of disputed PPE-related contracts.

Robert Jenrick: At the end of March 2022, the Department was involved in resolving disputes for 176 contracts with an aggregate value at risk of £2.6 billion. Further information for the first quarter of 2022/23 will be available in due course.

Ambulance Services: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her department are taking to reduce ambulance waiting times in Havering.

Robert Jenrick: NHS England advises that London Ambulance Service (LAS) has established an Ambulance Receiving Centre (ARC) at Queen’s Hospital in Romford which oversees care for patients arriving by ambulance, avoiding handover delays and allowing ambulance crews to respond to new calls. In addition, LAS has established the ‘London Patient Flow’ system which ensures patients are taken to the hospital where the appropriate care can be administered as soon as possible. This aims to manage the number of patients waiting for an ambulance at peak times and reducing the amount of time patients are waiting to be admitted to hospital.NHS England has allocated an additional £150 million for ambulance service pressures in 2022/23, supporting improvements to response times through additional call handler recruitment, retention and other funding requirements.

Hospitals: Construction

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030.

Robert Jenrick: The Government is committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030. Six are currently under construction and one is now completed.

Department for Education

Department of Education: Taxis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on taxi cabs for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each of the last three years.

Jonathan Gullis: The amounts spent by the Department on taxi travel for the requested financial years are:2019/20: £545,9722020/21: £195,0222021/22: £200,403.These are the full amounts for both ministers and civil servants. The Department only has total figures readily available and so does not have the split for ministers and civil servants.

Schools

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that schools can continue to supply essential classroom materials in the context of increases to the cost of living.

Jonathan Gullis: This Government has invested significantly in schools funding, which will help schools manage their costs. Overall, core schools funding (including funding for both mainstream schools and high needs) is increasing by £4 billion in the 2022/23 financial year, compared to the previous year.Schools will also benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which is running from 1 October 2022 until at least 31 March 2023. This will reduce how much schools will need to spend on their energy and give schools greater certainty over their budgets over the winter months. The details of the scheme can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers.HM Treasury will lead a review to consider how to support households and businesses, including schools, with energy bills from April 2023.The Department established Oak National Academy as its new arm’s length curriculum body on 1 September 2022, providing schools with continued access to completely optional, free, adaptable curriculum resources.The Department’s Schools Resource Management offer also includes a free range of practical tools and information to help all schools unlock efficiencies which they can then reinvest based on their own priorities. Further information can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/schools-financial-health-and-efficiency.It is for Head Teachers to decide how best to manage their budgets, as they know best how to support the needs of their pupils with the budget available. The Department knows that every school’s circumstances are different. If schools are in serious financial difficulty, they should contact their local authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

LocatED

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education,  with reference to the Government's proposals to reduce the number of government agencies, what discussions he has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) LocatED on that body's future (i) operation and (ii) budget; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Gullis: In line with guidance set out in HM Treasury Green Book, the Department routinely engages in usual business planning activity with LocatED and HM Treasury relating to the future operation and budget.

Schools: York

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in York Outer constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Plymouth Moor View constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Cities of London and Westminster constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Hendon constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Milton Keynes North constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Peterborough constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Hartlepool constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Dover constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in South Swindon constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Chingford and Woodford Green constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Burnley constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Shipley constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Erewash constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Bassetlaw constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Norwich North constituency from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department has allocated over £13 billion in condition funding since 2015 for improving the condition of school buildings, including £1.8 billion in the 2021/22 financial year.Schools, and those responsible for school buildings, receive condition funding through different routes depending upon their size and type. Local authorities, large academy trusts and large voluntary aided bodies receive school condition allocations (SCA) to invest in their schools. In addition, devolved formula capital (DFC) is allocated for individual schools and other eligible institutions to spend on capital projects that meet their own priorities.As investment of these allocations is determined at a local level, and many responsible bodies, such as large academy trusts, cut across local boundaries, it is not possible to break total spend down to constituency level. However, allocations of SCA and DFC for the 2021/22 financial year can be accessed here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20210701004626/https:/www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2021-to-2022-financial-year.Schools not part of bodies eligible for SCA are instead eligible to bid to the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). Annual bidding rounds for CIF are launched in the autumn and we announce the outcomes in the following spring. CIF funding is released in phased payments as work progresses. For CIF, the Department does not track monthly expenditure by constituency. We publish final CIF funding amounts on individual projects only once all projects in an annual round have completed, for commercial reasons.In addition to allocations, the School Rebuilding Programme will rebuild or refurbish buildings at 500 schools over the next decade. 161 schools have been confirmed to date and details, including contract values once available, are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-rebuilding-programme-2022-to-2023-approved-schools.

Teaching Regulation Agency

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government's proposals to reduce the number of government agencies, what discussions he has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Teaching Regulation Agency on that body's future (i) operation and (ii) budget; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Gullis: The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) is an executive agency of the Department for Education.The TRA operates the regulatory system for teacher misconduct and acts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education to investigate allegations of serious teacher misconduct and determines whether a prohibition order is appropriate.The TRA also acts on behalf of the Secretary of State as the competent authority for teaching in England. This role includes the recognition of the professional status of appropriately qualified teachers from outside England and the Award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).The Department has not entered into any recent discussions with HM Treasury on the TRA’s future operation and budget. The Department has regular, routine discussions with the TRA about its operations and budget as part of regular assurance processes with its Executive Agencies.

Childcare: Stockport

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many childcare providers have closed in Stockport constituency since 2010; and how many childcare places those closures have eliminated.

Kelly Tolhurst: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Food Technology

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the school teaching of home cooking; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Cooking and nutrition are part of the national curriculum for design and technology (D&T). This was introduced as part of the 2014 D&T curriculum and is compulsory for key stages 1 to 3, or ages 5 to 14. Schools are required to teach children how to cook, with an emphasis on savoury dishes, and how to apply the principles of healthy eating and nutrition. This means children are equipped with the knowledge and skills to prepare a range of nutritious dishes that will stand them in good stead in their adult lives.The department also introduced a food preparation and nutrition GCSE in September 2016. This allows students to develop their skills further in practical cooking, as well as helping them to understand and apply the principles of food science and healthy eating when preparing and cooking food.The Levelling Up White Paper confirmed the department’s dedication to food education, including a commitment to launch a school cooking revolution. The department is developing curriculum support to ensure young people leave school knowing how to cook at least six savoury recipes that will support healthy lifestyles.

Sex and Relationship Education: Suicide

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including suicide prevention in the statutory guidelines for the RSHE curriculum.

Kelly Tolhurst: Pupils in schools are taught about mental health as part of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum, which was made mandatory in 2020 for all pupils.Schools can teach older pupils about suicide in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. The RSHE statutory guidance advises that schools should approach teaching about self-harm and suicide cautiously. Schools should be aware of the risks to pupils from exposure to materials that are instructive rather than preventative, including websites or videos that provide instructions or methods of self-harm or suicide. If teachers have concerns about a specific pupil in relation to self-harm or suicidal thoughts, they must follow safeguarding procedures immediately.

Primary Education: Canterbury

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of primary school places in Canterbury.

Kelly Tolhurst: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities. The department provides capital funding through the basic need grant to support local authorities to provide school places, based on their own forecast data. They can use this funding to provide places in new schools, or through the expansion of existing schools and can work with any school in their local area, including academies and free schools. In March 2022, the department announced Kent will receive just below £43 million to support the provision of new school places needed for 2024 and just over £5 million for 2025. This takes their total funding allocated between 2011 and 2025 to just below £422 million. The department also engages with councils on a regular basis to review their plans for creating additional places and to consider alternatives where necessary. When local authorities are experiencing difficulties, the department supports them to find solutions as quickly as possible.

Schools: Energy

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will revise the provisional funding allocations for schools for 2023-24 in order to provide ongoing financial support to schools with energy costs once the six-month energy bills support has ended.

Jonathan Gullis: Schools are eligible for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which will run until at least 31 March 2023. As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement on Monday 17 October, HM Treasury will lead a review to consider how to support households and businesses, including schools, from April 2023.The Department continue to monitor the financial health of schools, along with other education providers including early years provision and colleges, carefully to ensure support is appropriately targeted to those most in need.

BTEC Qualifications: Finance

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the impact of removing funding for BTECs for young people on people wishing to pursue a career in the video games industry.

Andrea Jenkyns: The department is reforming the post-16 qualifications system to provide clearer choices for students and to put A levels and T Levels at the heart of 16-19 study. Qualifications such as BTECs will continue to play an important role for 16 to 19-year-olds and adults. For students, this includes taking these qualifications in mixed programmes alongside A levels, or as an alternative programme in areas that may be less well-served by A levels or T Levels.On 14 October, the department published a list of qualifications which will have funding removed from 2024 due to overlapping with a wave 1 or 2 T Level. We will publish the provisional list of qualifications which overlap with a wave 3 or 4 T Level in spring 2023. These qualifications, if not successfully appealed, will have funding removed from August 2025.The updated impact assessment published alongside the response to the second stage consultation can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-in-england--2. The assessment looked at the potential impact of the review on students, but it did not look specifically at those looking to pursue a career in the video games industry.

Office for Students: Codes of Practice

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Office for Students' Code of Conduct for Board members with the Cabinet Office's Code of Conduct for board members.

Andrea Jenkyns: The Office for Students’ (OfS) code of conduct for board members was developed by the OfS and is a matter for the OfS. However, the OfS code of conduct states that it is based on current best practice, including that from the Civil Service code and guidance from Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Education.Board members of the OfS are also expected to adhere to the standards set out in the Cabinet Office’s code of conduct for members of public bodies, as well as their own code of conduct.

Higher Education: Racial Discrimination

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on tackling institutional racism in higher education institutions.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the level of institutional racism in UK universities.

Andrea Jenkyns: Any form of racism is abhorrent and unacceptable anywhere, including in higher education (HE). HE providers are autonomous institutions with clear responsibilities. Under the Equality Act 2010, they should have robust policies and procedures in place to comply with the law in investigating and swiftly addressing reports of racism.The department is clear that HE providers should be proactive in confronting and preventing racism, ensuring campuses are safe, welcoming environments for students of all races and backgrounds, and empowering those students to feel confident in reporting issues. The 2020 Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report found that most students from ethnic minority groups do relatively well in accessing and completing HE.However, the department continues to work with universities, sector organisations, student organisations, and the regulator to drive racism out of HE institutions.The Office for Students (OfS) has published data showing that black students are less likely than white students to achieve a first or 2.1 degree. The department notes that the OfS will be tracking this further as part of its range of new performance indicators.The department is in regular contact with other government departments, such as the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, to align activity and ensure effective practice in prevention and victim support is shared widely.

Engineering: Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of students studying electronics and engineering at (a) further and (b) higher education in order to develop the skills required to meet vacancies in UK companies involved with chip design.

Andrea Jenkyns: The department is investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the course of this Parliament to ensure people can access high-quality training and education that addresses skills gaps and boosts productivity, to ensure that industries such as engineering and electronics get people with the skills that they need.Through this investment, we are creating a wide range of different opportunities for people to acquire in-demand skills. In particular, we have made key reforms to technical education to encourage people to take up technical routes, which could lead to them entering careers in engineering and electronics.Our high-quality apprenticeships continue to provide young people with the opportunity to earn and learn the skills needed for a career in the engineering and manufacturing sector.Employers can choose from over 147 employer-designed apprenticeships in the sector, and we are raising awareness of apprenticeships among young people through our ‘Get the Jump’ campaign.T Levels are also strengthening vocational options for young people finishing their GCSEs. They are two-year, technical qualifications designed with businesses and employers, equivalent in size to three A levels and with 20% of the course time in an industry placement. Three T Levels in Engineering and Manufacturing and three T levels in Digital sectors are now available.The Free Courses for Jobs offer, which was launched in April 2021, allows eligible adults to access over 400 Level 3 qualifications (A-level equivalent) for free, in subject areas including engineering and digital.We are establishing 21 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) across the country, providing access to industry standard facilities which focus on the needs of employers and learners in their specific geographical areas. IoTs are partnerships between further education providers, universities (HE) and employers, with employers at the heart of decision-making, curriculum development and delivery. IoTs aim to help close skills gaps in key STEM areas, including digital, construction, engineering and manufacturing, and life sciences.​Through the Strategic Priorities Grant, the department supplies funding to support HE providers’ ongoing teaching and other related activities. Over half of this funding is directed towards the provision of high-cost subjects, including engineering and technology subjects.We are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in engineering. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade.

Students: Loans

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to uprate the maximum maintenance loan students can claim in line with inflation for the second semester of the 2022-23 academic year.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of an increase to maintenance (a) loans and (b) grants for students.

Andrea Jenkyns: Decisions on student support are taken on an annual basis. The department is reviewing options for uprating maximum loans and grants for the 2023/24 academic year and an announcement will follow in the autumn.

Students: Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to support students with the rising cost of energy.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the level of hardship funds for universities.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to help support students from low income backgrounds with the costs of attending university.

Andrea Jenkyns: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen as a result of global events this year and that have impacted students. Many higher education (HE) providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance.To support disadvantaged students and those who need additional help, the department confirmed in guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) on funding for the 2022/23 financial year that universities will continue to be able to support students in hardship through their own hardship funds and the student premium, for which up to £261 million is available for academic year 2022/23.Maximum loans for living costs and grants have been increased this academic year, 2022/23. The government is reviewing options for uprating maximum loans and grants for the 2023/24 academic year. An announcement will follow in due course.In addition, maximum tuition fees have been capped at £9,250 for the 2022/23 academic year, in respect of standard full-time courses. The department is also freezing maximum tuition fees for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By 2024/25, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven years.As part of the package of support for rising energy bills, the government is also giving a council tax rebate payment of £150 to households that were living in a property in council tax bands A to D as their main home on 1 April 2022. This includes full-time students that do not live in student halls or in property that is not considered a House in Multiple Occupation for council tax purposes.All households will save money on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee. This is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount.The Energy Prices Bill introduced on 12 October includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this legislation will be set out in regulations.

Further Education: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to tackle repair backlogs in further education colleges in Warrington North constituency.

Andrea Jenkyns: The Further Education Capital Transformation Programme is delivering the £1.5 billion manifesto commitment to upgrade further education (FE) college estates.Through this programme, £200 million was allocated to all FE colleges and designated institutions to undertake immediate remedial work and upgrade the condition of their estates. Warrington and Vale Royal College, in the Warrington North Constituency, received an allocation of £712,228 of capital funding to improve their estate in August 2020. College groups were able to prioritise how and at which sites they could use this funding to tackle immediate condition improvement projects.The next stage of the programme of investment to upgrade the FE estate is due to be announced later this year.

Further Education and Schools: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the capital cost of tackling the backlog of repairs in (a) schools and (b) further education colleges in Warrington North constituency.

Andrea Jenkyns: Between 2017 and 2019, the department’s Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme visited every government-maintained school in England to collect data about the physical condition of the school estate. We are preparing detailed analysis of the data collected for the CDC programme and plan to publish by the end of the year.The key, high-level findings of the CDC programme, were published in May 2021 in the report ‘Condition of School Buildings Survey – Key Findings’. The report is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/989912/Condition_of_School_Buildings_Survey_CDC1_-_key_findings_report.pdf.In 2019, departmental officials visited every further education (FE) college in England to collect similar data to provide a comprehensive picture of the condition of the college estate. Further details on this process can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-data-collection-programme-information-and-guidance. A report outlining the high-level findings of the FE CDC programme will be published in due course.

Further Education: Lancaster and Fleetwood

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to tackle outstanding repairs to further education college buildings in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency.

Andrea Jenkyns: The Further Education Capital Transformation Programme is delivering the £1.5 billion manifesto commitment to upgrade further education (FE) college estates.Through this programme, £200 million was allocated to all FE colleges and designated institutions to undertake immediate remedial work and upgrade the condition of their estates. Lancaster and Morecambe College, which is situated in same local authority as Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency, received an allocation of £410,528 of capital funding to improve their estate in August 2020. Colleges were able to prioritise how they could use this funding to tackle immediate condition improvement projects.The next stage of the programme of investment to upgrade the FE estate is due to be announced later this year.

Higher Education: Admissions

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students were accepted onto higher education courses by each A-level grade combination in England in each of the last three years.

Andrea Jenkyns: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service publish data on acceptances to full-time undergraduate higher education by A level grade combination. It can be found here: https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-sector-level-end-cycle-data-resources-2021.The table below shows the number of acceptances by A level grade combinations for English 18-year-olds for the three most recent years.Figures for 2022 are due to published in December.Table 1 – English 18-year-olds accepted to full-time undergraduate higher education by A level points:A level points2019202020213 points (EEE)3051051454 points (DEE)1,1604004755 points (DDE)2,6259451,0156 points (DDD)4,7401,9351,9807 points (CDD)7,1003,5853,3808 points (CCD)9,6656,1555,1009 points (CCC)11,8959,1707,65010 points (BCC)13,80511,59010,18511 points (BBC)14,39013,71012,40012 points (BBB)14,39515,35014,41013 points (ABB)13,80015,54015,66514 points (AAB)11,86015,09016,16015 points (AAA)10,69014,55516,55516 points (A*AA)8,36512,75514,90517 points (A*A*A)5,2859,88012,86018 points (A*A*A*)4,83511,08516,505All134,910141,860149,380

T-levels: Harlow

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people are enrolled on a T Level qualification in Harlow constituency.

Andrea Jenkyns: There were 106 students funded for T Levels in the 2021/22 academic year at Harlow College, the only provider offering T Levels in the constituency in 2021. The department has not published any figures for T Level student numbers in the 2022/23 academic year. We would expect to publish figures at institution level in spring 2023.

Overseas Students

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it remains the policy of his Department to implement the International Education Strategy produced in 2019, including the target for the UK to host 600,000 international students and increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the International Education Strategy outlined in 2019 remains his Department's policy, including the target for the UK to (a) host 600,000 international students and (b) increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030.

Andrea Jenkyns: The department remains committed and continues to work towards the two ambitions in the International Education Strategy, to increase the value of our education exports to £35 billion per year and to continue to host at least 600,000 international students in the UK per year, both by 2030.

Schools: Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress he has made in moving from a National Funding Formula for schools to a direct funding formula.

Jonathan Gullis: The Government remains firmly committed to completing our reforms to the national school funding system, and introducing a direct national funding formula.This will mean that each mainstream school is allocated funding on the same basis, wherever it is in the country, and every child can be given the same opportunities, based on a consistent assessment of their needs.The Department is moving carefully towards the direct national funding formula over the coming years, working with the sector to ensure that the transition is a smooth one. From 2023-24, local authorities will have to move their own funding formulae closer to the national funding formula as part of our step-by-step approach to transition. Local minimum funding guarantee protections will remain in place to maintain stability for schools and protect them from sudden drops in pupil-led per-pupil funding.We are also continuing to develop the schools national funding formula to allocate funding nationally in line with our recent consultation: https://consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/implementing-the-direct-national-funding-formula/supporting_documents/Implementing%20the%20direct%20national%20funding%20formula%20%20government%20consultation.pdf. The Department's response will be published in due course.The Department will also provide an update on the Schools Bill in due course.

National Tutoring Programme: Lancaster and Fleetwood

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency through the National Tutoring Programme in each month since it was launched.

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent under the National Tutoring Programme in Warrington North constituency in each month since the launch of that programme.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department does not hold information on Tuition Partners or Academic Mentors in the required format at constituency level.School-led tutoring grant allocations by school and local authority for the 2021/22 academic year have been published here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1071234/School_Led_Funding_Publication_File_flat_values_v1.ods.Payment information relating to school-led tutoring for the 2021/22 academic year will be published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency once the reconciliation process has been completed for that period.School-led tutoring grant allocations for the 2022/23 academic year have been published and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-tutoring-programme-ntp-allocations-for-2022-to-2023-academic-year.Between November 2020 and June 2022, over 2 million tuition courses were started. The Government has committed more than £1 billion to support tutoring over the 2020/21 to 2023/24 academic years, during which the Department aims to offer up to six million tutoring courses.

Condition Improvement Fund

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to guidance on the Condition Improvement Fund, updated on 13 October 2022, and the Condition Improvement Fund 2023-24 Information for applicants, published by his Department in October 2022, whether a commitment to a proposed condition improvement scheme demonstrated in other ways other than by seeking a loan will improve an application's (a) probability of success and (b) speed of processing.

Jonathan Gullis: Providing a financial contribution, other than a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) loan, such as trust reserves, has a very marginal influence on whether an application is successful. For CIF 2022/23, around 41% of all applications were successful, and for those that provided a contribution almost 42% were successful. There is no difference in the handling of a CIF application’s assessment whether or not it includes a contribution or a loan request.It is the overall score that decides whether a bid is successful. The main consideration for applicants should be on achieving a high overall score against all three assessment criteria by evidencing high condition need, strong cost certainty and detailed project delivery planning.

Department of Education: Staff

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) full time equivalent employees and (b) employees by headcount there are at each of the executive agencies for which he is responsible as of 14 October 2022.

Jonathan Gullis: The table below provides details on the number of employees at the Department’s executive agencies as at 14 October 2022:Executive AgencyFull time equivalent employeesEmployees by headcountEducation and Skills Funding Agency784809Standards and Testing Agency133139Teaching Regulation Agency7982

Children: Protection

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will bring forward the annual publication of the final version of Keeping Children Safe in Education to avoid clashing with the start the school year.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department publishes a near final version of the keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) statutory guidance in late spring or early summer. This approach ensures that schools and colleges have sufficient time to digest revisions and to plan any necessary training, ahead of implementation in the next school year.It is rare for material changes to be made between the for-information version and the final publication in September. Where this does occur, changes are strictly limited to reflect vital information in response to unexpected or emerging issues.To bring forward the final version publication date would mean the guidance would be released during the summer holidays, which schools and colleges have signalled is not appropriate. However, the Department will consider adding a question when we next consult on KCSIE in relation to preferred scheduling.

Special Educational Needs: Finance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) capital and (b) other funding he has allocated to the planned national SEND and alternative provision implementation strategy.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper set out investments in the SEND and AP system, including:£2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to support local authorities to deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND or who require AP.£70 million in a SEND and AP change programme to test and refine key proposals and support local SEND systems across the country to manage local improvement.An additional £300 million through the Safety Valve intervention programme, on top of the department’s existing annual budget for the programme, enabling us to work with more local authorities.£85 million over three years from 2022/23, through the delivering better value in SEND programme, to support local authorities to improve delivery of SEND services for children and young people while ensuring services are sustainable.An increase in high revenue needs funding of £1 billion (13%) in 2022/23 compared to last year, to a total of £9.1 billion.

T-levels: Expenditure

Mr Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the total cost the public purse has been for T levels in each academic year since 2017/18.

Andrea Jenkyns: The total spend on the T Level Programme between the financial years 2017/18 and 2022/23 is due to be £918.5 million. This includes developing and growing the capacity of teachers to deliver T Levels effectively. Of this total, approximately £400 million capital funding has been provided to colleges and other providers for the first four waves of T Level delivery, starting in September 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, to improve the quality of facilities and equipment that will be used to deliver T Levels.

Financial Services: Education

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to help improve financial literacy amongst young people.

Kelly Tolhurst: Finance education forms part of the citizenship national curriculum, which can be taught at all key stages and is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4. More information about the content of the national curriculum can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum.Financial education ensures that pupils are taught the functions and uses of money, the importance of personal budgeting, money management, and managing financial risk. At secondary school, pupils are taught about income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent.The mathematics curriculum, which is compulsory at key stages 1 to 4 also develops financial skills. At primary level, there is a strong emphasis on the essential arithmetic knowledge that pupils should be taught. This knowledge is vital, as a strong grasp of numeracy and numbers will underpin pupils’ ability to manage budgets and money, including, for example, using percentages. There is also some specific content about financial education, such as calculations with money.The secondary mathematics curriculum develops pupils’ understanding and skills in relation to more complex personal finance issues, such as calculating loan repayments, interest rates and compound interest.As with other aspects of the curriculum, schools have flexibility over how they deliver these subjects, so they can develop an integrated approach that is sensitive to the needs and background of their pupils.The Money and Pensions Service published financial education guidance for primary and secondary schools in England on 11 November 2021, during Talk Money week. The guidance is designed to support school leaders to enhance the financial education currently delivered in their schools to make it memorable and impactful. Further information can be accessed at: https://maps.org.uk/2021/11/11/financial-education-guidance-for-primary-and-secondary-schools-in-england/.The department and the Money and Pensions Service will deliver a series of joint financial education webinars during the 2022/23 academic year, aimed at promoting the importance of financial education, improving teacher confidence, skills and knowledge and providing a launchpad for further engagement with training and resources to support continuous improvement.

Schools: Vacancies

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September to Question 45468, what recent steps his Department has taken to assess trends in the levels of vacancy rates in the school support staff workforce.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department does not collect support staff vacancy numbers as part of the school workforce census, nor does it monitor vacancies within schools.The Department committed to help schools with their recruitment, use and training of teaching assistants in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Green Paper, and refresh of the school resource management guidance. The Department will work with schools to understand how best we can help.The Department does not have responsibility for pay, nor a role in pay negotiations. Employers have the freedom to make their own decisions according to their circumstances.The National Joint Council for local government (NJC) has made the following one-year pay offer for 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, for support staff, with pay to be backdated to 1 April 2022:with effect from 1 April 2022, an increase of £1,925 on all NJC pay points 1 and abovewith effect from 1 April 2022, an increase of 4.04 per cent on all allowanceswith effect from 1 April 2023, an increase of one day to all employees’ annual leave entitlementwith effect from 1 April 2023, the deletion of pay point 1 from the NJC pay spine.

Childcare

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to ensure parents have access to affordable childcare.

Kelly Tolhurst: In July 2022, the department announced measures to increase take-up of childcare support and reduce the costs and bureaucracy facing providers. This included consulting on changing staff to child ratios for two-year-olds in group-based settings and clarifying flexibilities for childminders, to give providers more autonomy. The department has announced additional funding of £160 million in the 2022/23 financial year, £180 million in 2023/24 financial year and £170 million in 2024/25 financial year, compared to the 2021/22 financial year, for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers.The department has also announced a £1.2 million marketing campaign underway via the Childcare Choices website to ensure that every parent knows about the government funded support they are eligible for.The department continues to work across government, looking at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use government-funded support they are entitled to.

Childcare: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Ofsted Official Statistics Main findings: childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2022, published 29 June 2022, whether he has made an assessment of the resilience of remaining providers of childcare to parents in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department continues to monitor the sufficiency of childcare. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children, and Ofsted data currently shows that the number of places offered by providers on the Early Years Register has remained broadly stable since August 2015.The department also discusses sufficiency of provision in regular conversations with local authorities.Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. At present, Sheffield local authority are reporting they are fulfilling their duty.

Classroom Assistants

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2022 to Question 42011, on Classroom Assistants, if he will place in the Library a schedule of the other research held within the department and used to inform ongoing policy development referred to in that Answer including the (a) titles, including subtitles, (b) objectives, (c) commissioning dates, (d) reporting dates, (e) commissioning costs for reports that were externally produced and (f) the names of authors, or responsible institutions where the research was carried out externally.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department holds internal research entitled Teaching Assistant User Research from August 2019. The objective of the research was to investigate how the Department could add value and support schools to make more effective decisions around the use and deployment of Teaching Assistants. This research was not externally commissioned. ​​The Department publishes all social and economic research that it commissions. In relation to school support staff, the Department has published:Deployment of Teaching Assistants in Schools by Ask Research in June 2019 andExploring Teaching Assistants’ appetite to become Teachers by Cooper Gibson Research in September 2019.

Schools: Bus Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent conversations he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the (a) Department for Transport and (b) Treasury on the potential impact on educational attainment of students if school bus services are cancelled due to school funding not matching inflation.

Kelly Tolhurst: Regular attendance at school is vital for children’s education, wellbeing, and long-term development. The department’s priority is to reduce overall school absence and maximise the number of children who regularly attend school.The department’s home to school transport policy aims to ensure no child is unable to access education because of a lack of transport. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide free home to school transport for all children of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and cannot walk there due to distance, route safety, or as a result of special educational needs, disability or mobility problems. There are additional rights to free transport for low-income families aimed at helping them exercise school choice.Most central government funding for home to school transport is provided through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) administered by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities. The LGFS is making available £54.1 billion in the 2022/23 financial year, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22. This is the largest cash-terms increase in grant funding provided through the settlement in the past 10 years. The funding is largely un-ringfenced, in recognition that councils are best placed to allocate funding based on their local communities’ needs, priorities and statutory duties.The department also provides grant funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the cost of extended rights transport, £43.3 million in 2022/23, with the latest inflation rates at the time used to calculate funding.The department recognises that inflation forecasts are higher than they were when the Autumn Budget Spending Review 2021 settlement was announced.  How that interacts with the finances of local government is not straightforward. However, as not all areas of expenditure will be sensitive to inflation and local authorities may have multi-year contracts, cushioning them from this year’s inflationary increases. The department recognises that local authorities are delivering children’s services in a challenging environment and are grateful for all they are doing to support children and families.Officials regularly meet colleagues from other departments to discuss cost of living pressures, and the department continues to work with the sector to understand the impact of inflationary increases on delivery of services.

Secure Accommodation

David Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help increase the availability of places in secure children's homes.

Kelly Tolhurst: To help local authorities ensure there is sufficient available accommodation for all children in their care, the department is making a substantial investment in building new secure children’s homes (SCH). The Chancellor announced £259 million capital funding in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 to provide high-quality homes for some of the most vulnerable young people, closer to families, schools, and health services. This also includes £195 million to support SCH estates.This investment will enable local authorities to undertake more ambitious work to reconfigure and expand these estates, reduce the number of children waiting for a secure welfare place in a SCH, and support local authorities to place children in their care closer to families and friends, where possible. This includes replacing ageing parts of the estates, investing in upgrades and improvement works to improve occupancy rates, increase the number of beds, and build new provision in regions, such as London and the West Midlands, where there is currently none.

National Tutoring Programme: Blackburn

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been provided through the National Tutoring Programme in Blackburn in each month since it that programme was launched.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department does not hold information on Tuition Partners or Academic Mentors in the required format at constituency level.School-led tutoring grant allocations by school and local authority for the academic year 2021 to 2022 have been published at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1071234/School_Led_Funding_Publication_File_flat_values_v1.odsPayment information relating to School-Led Tutoring for the academic year 2021 to 2022 will be published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency once the reconciliation process has been completed for that period.School-led tutoring grant allocations for the academic year 2022 to 2023 have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-tutoring-programme-ntp-allocations-for-2022-to-2023-academic-year.Between November 2020 and June 2022, over two million tuition courses were started. The Government has committed more than £1 billion to support tutoring over academic years 2020 to 2023/24, during which we aim to offer up to six million tutoring courses.

Special Educational Needs: Staff

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to publish a specialist special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) workforce strategy as part of the planned national SEND and alternative provision implementation strategy.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for Teachers of the Deaf under the planned national SEND and alternative provision implementation strategy.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department remains committed to publishing the government’s response to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper consultation in a national SEND and AP improvement plan in due course. This will set out the government’s response to the consultation, including how we are supporting the workforce to meet the needs of children and young people. The department will not be commenting on individual policy proposals ahead of the response being issued.

Special Educational Needs: Canterbury

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of SEND places available in schools in Canterbury.

Kelly Tolhurst: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), sits with local authorities. Therefore, the department has not collected central data on the capacity of special schools or of the availability of SEND places more broadly. However, starting from summer 2023, we plan to collect data from local authorities on the physical capacity of special schools and SEND units and resourced provision in mainstream schools, as well as corresponding forecasts of demand for specialist places. We expect this to be an annual data collection, forming part of the existing School Capacity Survey.To support local authorities fulfil their statutory duties, the department is investing £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to help deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision (AP). This represents a significant, transformational investment in new high needs provision. It will support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and will also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.As part of this commitment, in March 2022 the department announced High Needs Provision Capital Allocations amounting to over £1.4 billion of new investment, focused on academic years 2023/24 and 2024/25. In June 2022, we announced that we will build up to 60 new centrally delivered special and AP free schools. The application process for special free schools will close on 21 October 2022.

Childcare: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the affordability of childcare provision in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department continues to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use government-funded support they are entitled to. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England and fees data can be broken down to local authority level.The latest data shows that the mean hourly fee band by Sheffield local authority for two year old children, and three and four year olds in 2021 is £5.00.

Educational Psychology: Training

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what new funding for training of educational psychologists will be allocated by his Department after 2022.

Kelly Tolhurst: In February 2022, the department announced a further £10 million investment to train over 200 more educational psychologists. Their training will commence in September 2023, and they will graduate in 2026.In March 2022, the department published the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Green Paper, detailing our proposals for an inclusive education system to ensure that all children and young people have timely access to specialist services and support. Consultation on these proposals closed in July, and the department is currently reviewing these responses in preparation for the publication of our SEND implementation plan.

Pre-school Education: Staff

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of safeguarding in early years setting of removing staff to child ratios.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department has a statutory obligation to consult on any potential changes to the Early Years Statutory Framework (EYFS), including any proposed changes to ratios. The department consulted on moving to the Scottish ratios for two-year-olds, from a ratio of 1:4 (one adult to four children) to 1:5 (one adult to five children), as well as on how greater flexibility can be provided within ratios for childminders. This consultation closed on 16 September, and the department will respond in due course.Responses from this consultation will help to build the evidence base, including understanding more around the potential effect of safeguarding in the event that government guidelines are changed.Alongside the consultation, the department ran a survey of early years providers to establish the likely impact of the changes on providers, and this survey will be published in due course.Our priority continues to be to provide safe, high-quality early years provision for our youngest children.

Childcare: Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) nurseries and (b) other early years childcare settings have closed in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough constituency.

Kelly Tolhurst: According to Ofsted records, as of 31 March 2022, four providers on non-domestic premises on the Early Years Register and ten childminders on the Early Years Register had left the register register in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough from March 2021 and March 2022. Ofsted’s publication provides data on both joiners and leavers to the register but not at a parliamentary constituency level.

Special Educational Needs: Classroom Assistants

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 26 September to Question 45468, what assessment he has made of the availability of teaching assistants to support children with SEND.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department does not collect teaching assistant vacancy numbers as part of the school workforce census, nor does it monitor vacancies within schools.Schools can recruit teaching assistants according to their own circumstances. In the last two years, schools have recruited 10,000 more teaching assistants, taking the headcount to the highest on record. The department is committed to helping schools with their recruitment and provides guidance on the use and training of teaching assistants in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision Green Paper, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-review-right-support-right-place-right-time. The department has also provided guidance on the use of support staff in schools in the school resource management guidance, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-excellent-school-resource-management.The department has funded the development of a number of good practice guidance documents through its SEND schools’ workforce contracts, including a Teaching Assistant Deployment Review Guide, which can be accessed at: https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/resources/teaching-assistant-deployment-review-guide.The Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance report 'Making best use of teaching assistants' offers the latest evidence and makes a number of recommendations to help schools make best use of their teaching assistants. It identifies ways schools can deploy them in different contexts to deliver high-quality support to pupils. The report also recommends that teaching assistants are fully prepared for their role in the classroom by having the skills and training necessary to carry out their work. The report can be accessed here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/uploads/pdf/TA_Guidance_Report_Interactive.pdf.

Children in Care: Supported Housing

David Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the requirement for providers of supported accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds to register with Ofsted on the sufficiency of placements.

Kelly Tolhurst: Local authorities have a statutory duty to make sure there is sufficient provision in their area to meet the needs of children in their care. The government is supporting local authorities to meet their statutory duty by investing £259 million capital funding to maintain capacity and expand provision in both secure and open children’s homes. This will provide high-quality safe homes for some of the most vulnerable children and young people. This will support local authorities to develop the provision they need locally, that may not be met in the private market.The government will invest over £142 million across the next three years to support local authorities, providers, and Ofsted to implement mandatory national standards, and Ofsted registration and inspection for currently unregulated supported accommodation providers who accommodate 16 and 17-year-old looked-after children and care leavers.The department expects the national standards to become mandatory from autumn 2023, following a minimum six-month registration window, which will enable providers to register before the standards come into force, reducing any potential disruption or sufficiency challenges for local authorities. We will invest up to £1.3 million to support providers to prepare for the reforms.The department will complete the required impact assessments ahead of laying the regulations, which will bring the new regime into effect.

Children in Care: Supported Housing

David Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many under-16s are currently placed in unregulated accommodation compared to prior to when the ban on that practice came into force on 9 September 2021.

Kelly Tolhurst: On 31 March 2021, 65 looked-after children aged under 16 were placed in unregulated accommodation. Information for the reporting year 2021/22 will not be available until November 2022.

Childcare: Stockton North

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an estimate of the sufficiency of childcare provision in Stockton North constituency.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an estimate of the affordability of childcare provision in Stockton North constituency.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, subsequent to the concerns raised by Ofsted, whether he has made an estimate of the number of nurseries and other early years childcare settings which have closed in Stockton North.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the OFSTED Official Statistics, Main findings: childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2022, published 29 June 2022, whether he has made an assessment of the resilience of remaining providers of childcare to parents in Stockton North and whether he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. At present, all local authorities report that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.The department continues to monitor the sufficiency of childcare. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children. Ofsted data currently shows that the number of places offered by providers on the Early Years Register has remained broadly stable, at 1.3 million places since August 2015. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics.The department also discusses sufficiency of provision in regular conversations with local authorities. Local authorities are not currently reporting any substantial sufficiency issues, and we have not seen a substantial number of parents unable to secure a childcare place.The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England, and fees data can be broken down to local authority level. The latest data for Stockton-on-Tees local authority shows that the mean hourly fee band for two-year-old children in 2021 is £5.75, and £5.50 for three and 4-year-olds.

Special Educational Needs

Taiwo Owatemi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department will take to support local authorities on speeding up special educational needs assessments.

Kelly Tolhurst: This year, local authorities have access to £51.3 billion to deliver their core services, including SEND services. Local authorities have the flexibility to spend according to local needs and priorities, including to undertake education, health and care needs assessments.

Childcare: Research

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has used (a) UK and (b) international academic research on the workforce participation effect of childcare support programmes to inform its childcare policies.

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of (a) UK and (b) international academic research on the impact of childcare support programmes on workforce participation.

Kelly Tolhurst: In assessing the impact of its free childcare entitlements, the department regularly looks at evidence from a range of different research publications. This includes the Families and Labour Market release from the Office for National Statistics and the department’s Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents series, the latest results of which can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents.The department also monitors take-up of the entitlements via national statistics from the Early Years census, conducted in the third week of January each year. Further information can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5.External evidence is used to help make international comparisons on the impacts of increasing employment rates, for example modelling that underpins the PwC Women in Work Index 2022. Further information can be accessed here: https://www.pwc.co.uk/services/economics/insights/women-in-work-index.html. This forms part of a wider evidence base, with caution taken when comparing childcare provision in different countries due to broader differences in school start date, funding models, and parental leave arrangements.More specifically, the department carried out evaluations on both the early and full rollouts of our 30 hours free childcare entitlement to review its early impact. The evaluation of the early rollout is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/642007/Evaluation_of_early_rollout_of_30-hours_free_childcare.pdf. The evaluation of the first year of national delivery is also accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-final-evaluation-of-the-national-rollout.The department regularly asks parents about the effect that 30 hours free childcare has on their families, including on their ability to work. This is undertaken through the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents.

Schools: Uniforms

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the cost of school uniforms by promoting price competitiveness.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department recognises that many people are worried about the impact of the increases in the cost of living with many households struggling to make their income stretch to cover the basics. It is therefore even more important that schools consider the cost of their uniform and follow the guidance to ensure best value for money for parents.In November 2021, the Department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms, which schools must consider when designing and implementing their uniform policies. The guidance, which came into effect in September 2022, requires schools to ensure that their uniform is affordable and secures best value for money for parents.The guidance requires schools to:keep branded items to a minimum, allowing parents more choice on where they purchase most items of uniformdemonstrate how value for money has been obtained from suppliers for any required branded itemsavoid single supplier contracts unless regular tendering competitions are run. The Department advises contracts to be retendered at least every five years.This guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms.

Teachers: Males

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department will take steps to increase the levels of recruitment of male primary school teachers.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department wants to attract and retain diverse, talented teachers from all backgrounds, and this includes recruiting male teachers.The recruitment of primary school teachers remains strong. In 2021/22, 136% of the Postgraduate Initial Teacher Training target was achieved in primary. This target has been exceeded in four of the last five years.In 2021, the Department’s new application service for initial teacher training (ITT) in England, ‘Apply for teacher training’, was rolled out nationally. It has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible and has been extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants to ensure it helps remove barriers to great teachers applying for ITT courses.The Department’s recruitment campaigns are targeted at audiences of students, recent graduates, and potential career changers, regardless of their identity or background. We take every effort to ensure that our advertising is fully reflective of this across the full range of marketing materials used.Since September 2020, all courses offered by ITT providers have been aligned to a mandatory core content framework, published in November 2019. The framework sets out a minimum entitlement for all trainee teachers.In September 2021, the early career framework was implemented, entitling early career teachers to a further 2 years of development support and training.Moreover, the reforms outlined in the Government’s response to the ITT market review will help us meet the commitment made in the teacher recruitment and retention strategy to create a world-class teacher development system by transforming the training and support teachers receive at every stage of their career.To ensure that all children and young people get the very best education, it is essential that the Department has a workforce of well-trained and well-supported teachers, with the expertise needed to deliver great teaching every day.

Department for Education: Public Expenditure

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of the fiscal event announced for 31 October 2022 on (a) his Department's revenue budget, (b) the adequacy of revenue funding for England's schools, (c) the adequacy of revenue funding for England's further education colleges, (d) the adequacy of revenue funding for England's universities and (e) the adequacy of revenue funding childcare provision; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department works closely with HM Treasury to support the education sector, including last year’s Spending Review where the Department secured an additional £18.4 billion of funding over the Parliament.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has confirmed that he will publish his Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October 2022 alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast. Decisions within the Fiscal Plan are for the Chancellor and will be confirmed in his statement. The Department has no plans to make a statement.

Oak National Academy: Competition

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he (q) sought or (b) received advice from the Competition and Markets Authority before taking the decision to bring Oak National Academy into the public sector.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department discussed draft proposals to create a curriculum body with the Competition and Markets Authority in January 2022. A number of aspects of the proposals, and their implications for competition, were covered.

Childcare: Warrington North

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the sufficiency of childcare provision in Warrington North constituency.

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an estimate of the affordability of childcare provision in Warrington North constituency.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department continues to monitor the sufficiency of childcare. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children. Ofsted data currently shows that the number of places offered by providers on the Early Years Register has remained broadly stable at 1.3 million places since August 2015.Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. At present, Warrington North constituency, which is covered by Warrington local authority, are reporting that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England and fees data can be broken down to local authority level. The latest data for Warrington local authority shows that the mean hourly fee band for 2-year-old children and for 3 and 4-year-olds in 2021 is £4.75.

Department for Education: Domestic Visits

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he most recently visited a (a) primary school, (b) secondary school, (c) further education college, (d) university or university college and (e) a childcare or early years setting outside of North West Hampshire constituency.

Kelly Tolhurst: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has made several visits outside of his constituency, with more planned. His most recent visit to a primary school, secondary school, further education college and early years setting occurred on Wednesday 21 September 2022, as part of a trip to York. He has not yet visited a university, but plans to in the near future. The most recent visit by a Secretary of State to a university setting was made by my right hon. Friend Nadhim Zahawi, the former Secretary of State, on Saturday 11 June 2022.

Schools: Internet

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department holds on usage of the 2019 guidance on Teaching online safety in school; and what plans he has to update that guidance.

Kelly Tolhurst: The ‘Teaching online safety in schools’ guidance was first published in 2019 and focuses on how schools can ensure pupils understand how to stay safe online, as part of existing curriculum requirements. It brings together information that will help schools deliver online safety content within their curriculum and embed it within their wider whole school approach.The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-online-safety-in-schools.Between 2019 and 2022, it has been viewed as follows:YearPage Views201941,304202016,374202115,32320229,140 The department is currently finalising an update of the guidance and we expect to publish it by the end of the year. The updated guidance will reflect that the relationships, sex and health education curriculum became statutory from September 2020 and will include updated weblinks, where these have changed over time.

Alternative Education and Special Educational Needs

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department will publish the Government's national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision improvement plan.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress he has made on establishing a national Special Education Needs and Alternative Provision board as part of the Government's SEND review.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department remains committed to publishing the government’s response to the green paper consultation in a national special educational needs and disability (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) improvement plan by the end of the calendar year. This will set out the government’s response to the consultation, and the next steps for delivering these reforms.The department also intends to establish the SEND and AP Board by the end of the calendar year.

Schools: Buildings

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2022 to Question 37614 on Schools: Buildings, when he plans to publish more detailed data from the Condition Data Collection.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department is preparing detailed analysis of the data collected for the Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme and plan to publish the details by the end of the year.The key, high-level findings of the CDC programme, were published in May 2021 in the report ‘Condition of School Buildings Survey – Key Findings’.The report is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/989912/Condition_of_School_Buildings_Survey_CDC1_-_key_findings_report.pdf.The Department has no plans to make a statement.

Schools: Lancaster and Fleetwood

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his Answer of 27 September to Question 51628 on Schools: Buildings, which schools in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency have one or more buildings classified in Category D of condition need; how long each of those buildings has been classified in that category; and if he will make a statement.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September 2022 to Question 51633 on Schools: Solar Power, how many school buildings in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency were inspected as part of the CDC Survey.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department is preparing detailed analysis of the data collected for the Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme and plan to publish the details by the end of the year.The key, high-level findings of the CDC programme, were published in May 2021 in the report ‘Condition of School Buildings Survey – Key Findings’.The report is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/989912/Condition_of_School_Buildings_Survey_CDC1_-_key_findings_report.pdf.The Department has no plans to make a statement.

Schools: Washington and Sunderland West

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his Answer of 27 September to Question 51628 on Schools: Buildings, which schools in Washington and Sunderland West constituency have one or more buildings classified in Category D of condition need; how long each of those buildings has been classified in that category; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September 2022 to Question 51633 on Schools: Solar Power, how many school buildings in Washington and Sunderland West constituency were inspected as part of the CDC Survey.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department is preparing detailed analysis of the data collected for the Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme and plan to publish the details by the end of the year.The key, high-level findings of the CDC programme, were published in May 2021 in the report ‘Condition of School Buildings Survey – Key Findings’.The report is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/989912/Condition_of_School_Buildings_Survey_CDC1_-_key_findings_report.pdf.The Department has no plans to make a statement.

Teachers: Training

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the cost to initial teacher training providers of seeking re-accreditation.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the level of availability of new providers to fill gaps in the provision of the Initial Teacher Training following previous rounds of accreditation.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to facilitate the entry of new providers into the teacher training market.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there are any conditions on which he would open a further round of accreditation to initial teacher training providers.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he will provide additional funding to existing initial teacher training providers to expand their provision.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department is pleased that 179 providers have been successful, following a rigorous accreditation process designed to drive up the quality and consistency of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) leading to Qualified Teacher Status from September 2024. Amongst the successful providers are several new entrants to the market with national reach, including the National Institute of Teaching. The Department is working with them to support and increase overall training capacity.The Department is actively encouraging all accredited providers to consider partnering with unsuccessful applicants to grow strong partnerships across England. This will strengthen the quality of training and ensure continuity of sufficiency, whilst allowing us to retain the invaluable local connections, experience, and expertise that experienced, but unsuccessful, providers bring to the ITT sector. We will continue to monitor the level of provision in each region and to work with accredited providers to increase capacity where required, by incentivising partnerships and expansions with local providers.The application process had no direct admin costs. It was designed to be both robust and proportionate, focusing on the vital components of the ITT market review’s Quality Requirements. The Department is clear that now is the right time to implement these changes and give all trainees across the country the highest quality ITT provision. Well-trained teachers will be critical to build on the good progress made with the college collaboration fund, early career framework, and national professional qualifications. To support the costs of making the required changes ahead of 2024/25, providers who have been accredited to deliver ITT provision from September 2024 are eligible for up to £25,000 via the ITT reform set-up grant.The Department will continue to work with the high-quality providers who have been accredited to increase provision in developing areas of concern. We do not intend to run any further accreditation rounds before first delivery of the reformed ITT in 2024/25. We expect the next round of accreditation to take place during the 2025/26 academic year, after the reforms have embedded into the system.

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government has made an assessment on the potential benefits of the provision of free school meals to all primary aged children in England.

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he has made an assessment of the potential cost of providing free school meals to all primary aged children in England.

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government has made an estimate of the potential cost or the provision of free school meals to primary aged children whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit in England.

Kelly Tolhurst: The department does not have plans to assess the effects of changing the current eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM). However, the department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM. Extending FSM to all families on Universal Credit would carry a significant financial cost.

Schools: Houghton and Sunderland South

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Watford constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Ipswich constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Milton Keynes South constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Hastings & Rye constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Southampton Itchen constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Derby North constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Bishop Auckland constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Warrington South constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Stroud constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Truro & Falmouth constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Bury North constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Gedling constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Stoke-on-Trent Central constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Leigh constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in Feltham and Heston constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent on improvements to school buildings in Lancaster and Fleetwood constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on improvements to school buildings in (a) York unitary authority and (b) York Central constituency in the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022.

Jonathan Gullis: The Department has allocated over £13 billion in condition funding since 2015 for improving the condition of school buildings, including £1.8 billion in the 2021/22 financial year.Schools and those responsible for school buildings receive condition funding through different routes depending upon their size and type. Local authorities, large academy trusts and large voluntary aided bodies receive school condition allocations (SCA) to invest in their schools. In addition, devolved formula capital (DFC) is allocated for individual schools and other eligible institutions to spend on capital projects that meet their own priorities.As investment of these allocations is determined at a local level and many responsible bodies, such as large academy trusts, cut across local boundaries, it is not possible to break total spend down to constituency level. However, allocations of SCA and DFC for the 2021/22 financial year can be found at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20210701004626/https:/www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2021-to-2022-financial-year.Schools that are not part of bodies eligible for SCA are instead eligible to bid to the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). Annual bidding rounds for CIF are launched in the autumn, and the outcomes are announced in the following spring. CIF funding is released in phased payments as work progresses. For CIF, we do not track monthly expenditure by constituency. We publish final CIF funding amounts on individual projects only once all projects in an annual round have completed, for commercial reasons.In addition to allocations, the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP) will rebuild or refurbish buildings at 500 schools over the next decade. 161 schools have been confirmed to date and details, including contract values once available, are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-rebuilding-programme-2022-to-2023-approved-schools.

Ministry of Justice

Rye Hill Prison

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that HMP Rye Hill Independent Monitoring Board has (a) its full complement of members and (b) the support it needs to adequately monitor the welfare of prisoners.

Rob Butler: The Ministry of Justice values the scrutiny provided by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) at HMP Rye Hill. The Department recognises the recruitment challenges faced by IMBs and across the wider volunteer sector.In response to this, the Department has increased the funding available to IMBs by £440,000 for the financial year 2022-23 and provided an additional £500,000 in capital funding. This additional funding aims to help ensure that IMBs increase their complement of members. The increases will fund structural developments to improve new member recruitment and retention, for example, through the recruitment of Regional Support Leads, who will play a key role in supporting recruitment to Boards through improving local outreach. A Regional Support Lead has been recruited for the region which HMP Rye Hill is located in and is expected to take up post in November 2022. A regional approach to recruitment will also help streamline the recruitment process to ensure that candidates can progress quickly and join the boards they have been recommended to.Individual boards have flexibility in how their members work individually and as a collective to ensure that the welfare of prisoners is monitored effectively. In addition, a National Monitoring Framework provides guidance to all boards on how to meet their monitoring requirements. The IMB Secretariat continues to provide support to members and boards through training, guidance and recruitment assistance.The additional funding provided by the Department has also increased communications resource to raise the profile of IMBs and improve recruitment advertising to support member recruitment.

CAFCASS

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of funding for and (b) effectiveness in the disbursement of that funding for contact centres as a result of the withdrawal of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services from the disbursement process.

Gareth Johnson: The Government recognises the important services provided by child contact centres.Until April this year, the Ministry of Justice provided small value grants, via Cafcass, to support the running of child contact centres. The Ministry of Justice is in the final stages of agreeing the funding arrangements for this year’s grants and information will be made publicly available once this process is complete.

Prisoners' Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme: Males

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many men in prison aged (a) 18-25 years old and (b) 26 years old and above were on the (i) basic, (ii) standard and (iii) enhanced incentives status in each month between 1 March 2021 and 31 March 2022.

Rob Butler: Data on the incentive scheme are published in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The requested disaggregation by month and age group does not form part of the published data and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Prisoners' Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme: Females

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women in prison aged (a) 18-25 years old and (b) 26 years old and above were on the (i) basic, (ii) standard and (iii) enhanced incentives status in each month between 1 March 2021 and 31 March 2022.

Rob Butler: Data on the incentive scheme are published in the HMPPS Annual Digest. The requested disaggregation by month and age group does not form part of the published data and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Treasury

Public Expenditure

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he could place a copy of expected annual spend on the following projects (a) GSS HMRC Led Cluster Programme, (b) Single Customer Account, (c) Debt Transformation, (d) Data Protection Remediation Programme, (e) Making Tax Digital, (f) Trader Support Service, (g) Infrastructure Programme, (h) Debt Respite Programme, (i) Single Trade Window Programme, (j) Payments, (k) Building Our Future Locations Programme, (l) Enterprise Security Programme ESP, (m) Borders & Trade Programme, (n) Protect Connect, (o) Critical Platform Transformation CPT, (p) Unique Customer Record, (q) 	Contact Engagement Programme, (r) Technology Sourcing Programme, and (s) Securing our Technical Future in each of the financial years from the current year until the end year of each project, and divided into resource and capital spending, in the House of Commons Library.

Richard Fuller: It is not possible to provide reliable data for expected future spend on an annual basis as all future spend remains subject to HMRC internal business planning rounds, which are currently in progress. Costs for some programmes beyond this year at least may change as a result. Data is available on each of the projects listed, which are part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). This is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-government-major-projects-portfolio-data-2022.

Public Expenditure: Environment Protection

Ruth Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the adequacy of that Department's budget in helping meet the Government’s environmental objectives.

Felicity Buchan: The government is committed to protecting and enhancing our natural environment in line with the ambitious approach set out in our 25 Year Environment Plan and legislated in the Environment Act 2021. These long-term objectives will be achieved through a combination of public expenditure, private finance, and other policy levers. The budget allocated to the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs will enable them to drive continued progress during this parliament.

Video Games: Tax Allowances

Jack Brereton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of Video Games Tax Relief to (a) jobs, (b) investment and (c) productivity in the UK video games sector; and what plans he has to increase video games tax relief from 25 per cent to 32 per cent in April 2023.

Matt Western: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits increasing video games tax relief from 25 per cent to 32 per cent.

Felicity Buchan: The Government recognises the valuable economic and cultural contribution of the video games industry. The Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR) has supported £5.1 billion of UK expenditure on 1,940 games since its introduction in 2014. The Government keeps all tax reliefs under review.  Any externally commissioned evaluation will be published in the usual way, in line with the Government Social Research Publication Protocol. The Government regularly receives proposals for changes to tax reliefs. When considering changes, the Government must ensure they provide support to businesses in a fair way and that taxpayer money is effectively targeted. An uplift in the rate of VGTR is not currently under consideration.

Mortgages: Private Rented Housing

Liam Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of all mortgages were buy-to-let in each region of the UK in the most recent period for which date is available; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of buy-to-let purchases on the availability of properties for first-time buyers.

Andrew Griffith: In Q2 this year, 13.6% of new advances were buy-to-let mortgages. Whilst the Government wants to support those who aspire to be homeowners, we appreciate that this is not everyone’s aspiration and that there are many people for whom renting a home is either more practical or affordable. There therefore needs to be a thriving private rental sector to accommodate these people’s housing needs. However, the Government is aware that the growth of the buy-to-let sector can impact other people’s ability to get on the property ladder. This is why higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax were introduced in 2016 for the purchases of additional residential properties. The Government has also restricted the amount of income tax relief that landlords can claim on property finance costs to the basic rate of tax. The Government remains committed to helping as many first-time buyers as possible to get on the housing ladder, and operates a range of schemes that aim to increase the supply of low-deposit mortgages, increase the availability of new housing, and stimulate economic growth. These include First Homes, Shared Ownership through the Affordable Homes Programme, and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. The Government also helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit through the Lifetime ISA and Help to Buy: ISA. Over 800,000 households have been helped to purchase a home since spring 2010 through these Government-backed schemes, with the annual number of first-time buyers at a 20-year high in 2021.

Economic Advisory Council: Public Appointments

Mick Whitley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason he has not included representatives of (a) housing charities, (b) debt charities and (c) trade unions on his new Economic Advisory Panel.

Andrew Griffith: On 17th October, the Chancellor announced that he would establish an Economic Advisory Council. This will act as a consultative forum for the government to be advised on UK and international economics and financial markets. The Council will consist of leading and respected economists. The Chancellor has announced the initial members to form the council, with further members to be added in due course. All members have been chosen for their personal knowledge and expertise, as relevant to advising the government on the UK economy. Members can be added or removed at the Chancellor’s discretion. The Council members, alongside the role and purpose of the Council, will be reviewed after six months.

Economic Situation: Forecasts

Imran Hussain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his Department's intention to publish fiscal plans and economic forecasts on 31 October 2022.

Edward Argar: The government will publish the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October, accompanied by an independent Office for Budget Responsibility economic and fiscal forecast. The Fiscal Plan will set out the government’s responsible fiscal approach fully, including how it will reduce debt as a percentage of GDP over the medium term.

Standard of Living

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of when living standards will return to 2008 levels in real terms.

Edward Argar: The government understands that people across the UK are worried about the rising cost of living and are seeing their disposable incomes decrease as they spend more on the essentials. The government is taking immediate action to help people and businesses deal with rising energy prices, in addition to the significant support for households announced earlier this year targeted at those who need it the most. Growth is the only sustainable means to increasing living standards for everyone. Strong growth and sustainable public finances go hand in hand, so the government will set out a medium-term fiscal plan in due course.

State Retirement Pensions

Imran Hussain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he had discussions with the Prime Minister on the pensions triple lock prior to 19 October 2022.

Edward Argar: The Chancellor meets regularly with the Prime Minister. The Government remains committed to the Triple Lock for this Parliament.

Incentives: Businesses

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can provide a monthly breakdown of average weekly earnings of bonus pay across businesses in SIC 2007 section K, L, M, and N in each of the last four years.

Andrew Griffith: This information is not available in the form requested. This is due to bonus payments not being separately identified in Pay As You Earn Real Time Information data. Therefore, HMRC is not able to provide figures for bonus pay.

Cost of Living: Diabetes

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the cost of living crisis on the financial wellbeing of people with diabetes.

Edward Argar: The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way. If individuals have extra-costs arising from their diabetes, then they may qualify for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the extra costs disabled people are facing. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments. A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered for those on means-tested benefits. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are eligible for this support. Those living with a long-term health condition, such as diabetes, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills. We have taken decisive action to support millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, millions of the most vulnerable households will receive further support this year through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. The £150 Council Tax rebate will also mean that all households in Council Tax bands A-D will receive a rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities. Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund. We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.

Cost of Living: Parkinson's Disease

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the cost of living crisis on the financial wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s.

Edward Argar: The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way. If individuals have extra-costs arising from their Parkinson’s disease, then they may qualify for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the extra costs disabled people are facing. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments. A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered for those on means-tested benefits. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are eligible for this support. Those living with a long-term health condition, such as Parkinson’s disease, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills. We have taken decisive action to support millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, millions of the most vulnerable households will receive further support this year through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. The £150 Council Tax rebate will also mean that all households in Council Tax bands A-D will receive a rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities. Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund. We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Development Aid

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the Official Development budget for 2022-23 has been allocated as of 10 October 2022; and if he will publish a breakdown of how that funding has been distributed.

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the allocations and pledges of Official Development Assistance for 2022-23 have been distributed as of 10 October 2022; and if he will publish a breakdown of how that funding has been allocated.

Vicky Ford: Due to the UK's significant support to the people seeking sanctuary in the UK from conflict in Ukraine and Afghanistan, the FCDO was not able to publish forward programme allocations in our Annual Report as the original allocations not be accurate. We remain committed to transparency and will provide updates to Parliament on spending plans in due course.A final estimate of UK ODA, the ODA:GNI ratio and more detailed breakdowns of UK ODA is published annually in Statistics on International Development publications.

Malaria: Disease Control

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle malaria after the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

Vicky Ford: The UK continues to monitor the impact that COVID-19 has had on efforts against malaria, with last year's World Malaria Report recording the first significant increase in malaria deaths in over two decades - up by 69,000 - and a 14 million increase in the number of malaria cases. The majority of our malaria investments are through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The UK continues to be a strong supporter of the Global Fund, having donated over £4.4 billion to date, and we will be announcing our support to the seventh replenishment in the coming weeks. In addition to this we will continue to invest in research to develop new tools to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria and in bilateral programmes to support malaria endemic countries to strengthen their health systems.

Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria on global health systems strengthening.

Vicky Ford: The Global Fund takes a country-led approach, consistent with the approach to patient development set out in the International Development Strategy. They are the main multilateral grant funder of health systems investing $1 billion annually, strategically aligned with our Health Systems Strengthening position paper. Their new strategy sets out an ambitious role in continuing the organisation's support and strengthening health systems and in pandemic preparedness.

Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria on the health of women and girls in high-burden countries.

Vicky Ford: The Global Fund's new strategy places a high priority on women and girls; 60 percent of the Global Fund's spending is specifically targeted on programmes for women and girls and about one-third of Global Fund investments directly benefits Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Our investments in the Global Fund have been critical for delivering our manifesto commitment to end the preventable deaths of mothers, babies and children by 2030, with malaria predominantly killing pregnant women and children under five and women with HIV having some of the highest maternal death rates.

Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to publish the Government's decision on the UK’s contribution to the seventh replenishment of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Vicky Ford: At the seventh replenishment pledging conference the UK committed to remain a strong supporter of the Global Fund. We look forward to announcing the UK's pledge to the Global Fund's seventh replenishment in the coming weeks.

Development Aid: Children

Sir Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department plans to publish an action plan for supporting child health and survival, including its funding strategy for routine vaccination programmes for children.

Vicky Ford: The UK published our approach paper on Ending the Preventable Deaths of Mothers, Babies and children and Health Systems Strengthening Position Paper in December 2021. Together these lay out the UK's approach to improving maternal and child health through the four pillars of strengthening health systems, improving inequality, tackling the wider determinants of health, and research and innovation.The UK's commitment to improving the reach and equity of routine childhood vaccination cuts across these pillars and is reaffirmed in these papers. The UK's contribution to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is supporting them to vaccinate 300 million children, saving 7-8 million lives through 2021-25.

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the leverage of the UK to support the (a) legal status, (b) education, (c) work opportunities and other long-term issues for the Rohingya in Bangladesh.

Gillian Keegan: The UK is a leading donor to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and has contributed £340 million to the response since 2017. This includes support to education and income generating activities for the Rohingya and host communities. The UK, along with other donors, consistently advocates for greater education, skills and livelihoods opportunities for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. We welcome the rollout of the Myanmar education curriculum earlier this year, and our ongoing dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh on skills development, which are vital in preparing the Rohingya for their safe, dignified and voluntary return home when conditions allow. The UK is clear that expanded livelihoods opportunities will improve the security situation in Cox's Bazar, reduce reliance on humanitarian aid, and help the refugees live meaningful and fulfilling lives while in Bangladesh.

Occupied Territories: Refugees

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2022 to Question 59761 on Occupied Territories: Refugees, if he will publish the search terms that will identify that information on DevTracker relating to financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Gillian Keegan: The data for UK contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) during financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 are available through the following links.Supporting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East - in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria: DevTracker Programme GB-1-204546 (fcdo.gov.uk) - https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-204546/summaryUK Support to Palestinian Refugees (UKSPR) 2022-2025: DevTracker Programme GB-GOV-1-301283 (fcdo.gov.uk) - https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-GOV-1-301283/summary

Human Rights: Females

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government will publish the Women and Girls strategy.

Vicky Ford: No publication date has been fixed yet, but the FCDO will publish a new Women and Girls Strategy soon. This will build on the International Development Strategy and outline how the FCDO will use the full range of levers at its disposal (including foreign, development, and security) to deliver on the 3Es (Educating girls, Empowering women and girls, and Ending violence against women and girls). This is especially urgent work in the context of global challenges and the attempted rollback on women's and girls' rights by some actors.

Iran: Sanctions

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a list of all (a) people and (b) organisations in Iran subject to UK sanctions.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list any (a) people and (b) organisations in Iran that the Government will sanction in response to the Iranian Government's reaction to ongoing protests in that country.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expelling Iranian diplomats in the UK in response to the Iranian Government's reaction to ongoing protests in Iran.

Gillian Keegan: The UK maintains close to 300 sanctions designations against Iran in relation to human rights, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), nuclear proliferation and terrorism. A full list is available online on the UK Sanctions List. Recently, on 10 October, the UK announced sanctions on seven senior security and political figures responsible for human rights violations in Iran, as well as the so-called Morality Police. For decades, they used the threat of detention and violence to control what Iranian women wear and how they behave in public. It is longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations, as to do so could reduce their impact, nor would we comment on potential expulsions. The UK's position is clear: through our words and actions, we will hold Iran to account.

Rafael Emiro Moreno

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to call for an investigation into the murder of Colombian journalist Rafael Emiro Moreno in that country.

Jesse Norman: Colombia is a UK Human Rights Priority Country and UK ministers and senior officials regularly raise human rights and security issues with the Colombian Government and in multilateral fora. We look to the Colombian authorities to investigate fully this tragic death and to take appropriate action against those responsible.Through our Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF) programme, which has provided £69 million in support of Peace Agreement implementation, security, and stability in Colombia since 2015, we will continue to support programmes that help Human Rights Defenders and other groups affected by violence.

Human Rights: Sanctions

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with her Cabinet Colleagues to ensure that the UK's sanctions regimes against human rights abusers keep pace with those introduced by our international counterparts.

Leo Docherty: It is not appropriate to speculate on potential future designations as this would reduce their impact. The UK continues actively to consider a broad range of designations under our human rights sanctions regime globally in order to make best use of these powers, collaborating closely with the EU and allies such as the US, Canada and Australia.

Emergencies: Education

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans the Government has for contributing to the Education Cannot Wait fund over the next four years.

Vicky Ford: The UK is proud to be a co-founding member and leading donor to Education Cannot Wait (ECW). Given the UK Government's response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, wider Official Development Assistance (ODA) pressures including the ODA-eligible expenditure incurred through the Afghan resettlement programme and the UK's support to people fleeing Ukraine, the FCDO and other ODA spending departments will need to revisit aid budgets to ensure all eligible spending is managed within 0.5% of Gross National Income this calendar year.The Government remains committed to transparency and will provide an update to Parliament on spending plans in due course.

Myanmar: Human Rights

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by the International Bar Association entitled Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders, Opposition, and the Right to a Fair Trial in Myanmar, published in August 2022; and what steps his Department is taking to help promote (a) the right to a fair trial and (b) the rule of law in Myanmar.

Leo Docherty: We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Myanmar and have made the UK position very clear. We are continually pushing for a political resolution to the crisis and calling for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. On 27 July, we agreed a UN Security Council Statement condemning the military's execution of pro-democracy activists and expressing deep concern over the state of emergency and arbitrary detention of members of those elected in November 2020.We will consider all the tools at our disposal to maintain pressure on the regime and respond to serious human rights violations, including further targeted sanctions and keeping Myanmar on the UN Security Council's agenda.

Myanmar: Politics and Government

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 14 of the Rome Statute, in the context of the National Unity Government of Myanmar issuing a declaration in 2021 to the International Criminal Court accepting the Court’s jurisdiction.

Leo Docherty: The UK is clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK is supportive, in principle, of any attempts to bring these issues before the International Criminal Court (ICC), where they can be scrutinised.The ICC, however, does not have jurisdiction over the situation in Myanmar and so a referral by the UK under article 14 of the Rome Statute would have no practical impact.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 59600 on Afghanistan: Refugees, how many (a) expression of interest in principle decisions have been made and communicated to applicants and (b) staff are processing the expression of interest in principle decisions in order to confirm eligibility for the scheme; and by what date he expects to start communicating eligibility decisions to applicants.

Leo Docherty: Under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) Pathway 3, the FCDO received over 11,400 Expressions of Interest (EOIs). We are still assessing eligibility but have begun communicating decisions on eligibility in principle to those who submitted an EOI. We have a dedicated case working team for Pathway 3 EOIs; team numbers have varied between 5 and 8. We will provide information on the numbers of those eligible under Pathway 3 in the first year once all the cases have been processed and we are able to provide assured data.In the first year, we will offer up to 1500 places to eligible at-risk British Council contractors, GardaWorld contractors, and Chevening alumni, including their eligible family members.

Libya: IRA

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last discussed the provision of compensation to UK-based victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism with his Libyan counterpart; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Keegan: The UK Government reiterates its profound sympathy for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism and indeed for all victims of the Troubles. The Government set out its position on Mr Shawcross's report on compensation for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism in a Written Ministerial Statement made on 23 March 2021. Mr Shawcross's report was commissioned as an internal scoping report, to provide internal advice to Ministers. Its content is based on private, confidential conversations and information shared on this basis. The responsibility for providing compensation specifically for the actions of the Qadhafi regime lies with the Libyan State. The Government has repeatedly urged the Libyan authorities, including at the highest levels of the Libyan government, to engage with UK victims and their representatives, and to address their claims for compensation.

Development Aid: Disclosure of Information

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will introduce (a) comprehensive user guidance on the existing search functionality and (b) a new advanced search functionality facility on the UK's Development Tracker website to better enable people using that website to extract information using Boolean operators by (i) date, (ii) location by country, (iii) location by region in country and (iv) free text.

Gillian Keegan: The UK is committed to aid transparency and FCDO systems allow the public to see how our aid objectives are delivered worldwide.UK aid programmes can be viewed on the Development Tracker's search page (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/search). The search functionality already allows filtering by free text and can be used in combination with filters for programme status, government department, thematic sector, participating organisation and benefiting country. Programme dates can be applied through the Advanced Filters option.User feedback and website analytics are being used to review site design and improve existing search functionality. Website guidance will be reviewed as part of this work.

Ministry of Defence

Russia: Armed Forces

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is aware of any ex-UK Armed Forces personnel who have helped train the Russian Armed Forces since 2010.

James Heappey: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on Friday 21 Ocotber 2022 to Question 65604.

University Air Squadrons: Training

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether hours flown as a member of a University Air squadron reduce the flying hours required at the first stage of the pilot training pipeline.

James Heappey: Flying hours accumulated whilst on a University Air Squadron do not reduce the hours required in the first stage of the pilot training pipeline.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what countries have military personnel stationed in the UK; and how many personnel for each country.

James Heappey: The data to answer this question is being drawn from across multiple areas of Defence and will take longer to review and collate. I will write to the hon. Menber with a full answer as soon as the information is available.

Veterans: Radiation Exposure

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals has discussed the updated application for medallic recognition for British Nuclear Test Veterans in between August and October 2022; when a decision on that matter will be published.

James Heappey: There is a well-established process in place for the approval of historic military medals claims. These are considered by the independent Advisory-Military Sub-Committee, which then provides advice to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee). All recommendations regarding the awarding of official medals must go through proper due process and will be announced in the usual way.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: Standards

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims made to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme were processed beyond the 90 day Average Clearance Time target in each of the last ten years.

Sarah Atherton: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the right hon. Members Question. I will write when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Veterans: Cost of Living

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the total amount of funding his Department has allocated to supporting veterans and their families with the cost of living crisis in the financial year 2021-22.

Sarah Atherton: The Ministry of Defence did not allocate specific funding to supporting veterans and their families with the cost of living crisis in Financial Year 2021-22. Through its Veterans Welfare Service, Veterans UK provides one-to-one welfare support and advice to veterans or anyone supporting a veteran, their families and dependants. However, veterans are entitled to the same cost of living support offered by the National, Local, and Devolved Governments wherever they reside, in common with the general population. This includes the Energy Price Guarantee, Cost of Living payments, and Council Tax rebate as applicable to their location and personal circumstances.

Armed Forces: Protective Clothing

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 61147, how many civil servants are employed in his Department on overseeing the storage of Personal Protective Equipment specific to the threat of covid-19.

Sarah Atherton: All Ministry of Defence (MOD) PPE, for whatever purpose, is stored and managed by the MOD’s delivery partner Team Leidos. It is considered a commodity with a shelf-life and as such is managed and maintained within the Logistic Commodities and Logistics (Transformation) programme, as such there are no civil servants directly responsible for its receipt, storage and issue. There are however civil servants working in the Commissioning and Managing Organisation (CMO) within the DE&S that oversee the entirety of the contractual Key Performance Indicators for LCST.

Armed Forces: Cost of Living

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) Air Force have provided support to ex-service personnel and their families to address the cost of living in the financial year 2021-22.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) veterans and (b) families of veterans have contacted the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and (iii) Air Force requesting financial support to address the cost of living in the financial year 2021-22.

Sarah Atherton: Veterans, as civilians, are entitled to the same cost of living support offered by the National, Local, and Devolved Governments wherever they reside, in common with the general population. This includes the Energy Price Guarantee, Cost of Living payments, and Council Tax rebate as applicable to their location and personal circumstances. Veterans may receive financial support targeted at them as a distinct group from their Regimental Associations or Service Benevolent Funds. However, Regimental Associations and Benevolent Funds are registered charities and, therefore, independent of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Additional support is also available from the wider Armed Forces charitable sector.   For these reasons, Armed Forces veterans and their families do not receive direct financial support from the Armed Forces, nor is there any facility for them to contact the Services to receive financial assistance. Advice and welfare support for veterans and their families is instead provided by the MOD via Veterans UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk  Any veteran struggling with their finances should contact Veterans UK in the first instance, who can then advise on appropriate avenues of support. Service Personnel who transition from service with welfare needs are referred to the Veterans’ Welfare Service.

Veterans: Cost of Living

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) veterans and (b) families of veterans have contacted his Department for financial support on the cost of living in the financial year 2021-22.

Sarah Atherton: The answer to this Question is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of new claims to the Armed Forces Compensation scheme were rejected between 1 January 2022 to 17 October 2022.

Sarah Atherton: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the Hon. Members Question. I will write to her when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Armed Forces: Housing

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of disability facilities in Service Family Accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of housing for service families with disabled children; and if he will make a statement.

Alec Shelbrooke: An improved process for managing Additional Needs Disability Adaptations (ANDAs) for Service personnel and their families, including disabled children, was implemented in April this year with the introduction of the new Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) Accommodation contracts.Required works must be approved within a target of 15 days of receiving ANDA applications and an accompanying Occupational Therapist's report. Pinnacle, the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) National Accommodation Management Services supplier, is responsible for providing weekly progress reports to families and each family is provided with a dedicated contact person.The MOD, through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), give the highest priority to ANDAs and work closely with the Service Families Federations and Welfare Teams to ensure families and their children are provided with fit-for-purpose adaptations to meet their changing needs. DIO also liaise with the Forces Additional Needs & Disability Forum (FANDF) which gives families the opportunity to express their concerns and suggestions for further service improvements to DIO.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 60937 on Ministry of Defence: Procurement, how many financial penalties his Department has issued to its suppliers for failing to meet commitments to (a) social value and (b) supporting SMEs since 2010; and the total value of each of those categories of penalties.

Alec Shelbrooke: Social value and SME commitments, as with any other contractual obligation, are managed and monitored throughout the life of the contract as part of the contract management process. As I said in my previous answer, these matters are addressed through the course of the contract as part of normal contract management processes and practices.

Armscor: Arms Trade

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many end-user certificates have been collected by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority for sales made to Armscor.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of all sales made by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority to ARMSCOR in the last twelve months.

Alec Shelbrooke: There have been no sales made by the Defence Equipment Sales Authority to Armscor in the last twelve months, and consequently, no end-user certificates have been collected.

Ajax Vehicles: Testing

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 62725 on Ajax Vehicles: Testing, what assurances his Departmental officials and Army personnel offered in relation to the AJAX trials, conducted by General Dynamics.

Alec Shelbrooke: The full Ajax trials programme is extensive and aims to demonstrate compliance with all aspects of the vehicles contracted requirements through a process of progressive assurance. Ministry of Defence experts (including Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) witness the trials and review associated evidence as part of the verification process.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Elementary Flying Training and beginning multi-engine flying training for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 97 weeks.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Advanced Rotary Flying Training and beginning the Puma conversion course for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 60 weeks.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Advanced Rotary Flying Training and beginning the Chinook conversion course for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 70 weeks.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Elementary Flying Training and beginning Basic Rotary Flying Training for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 103 weeks.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Basic Flying Training and beginning Advanced Fast Jet Training for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 68 weeks.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between completing Elementary Flying Training and beginning Basic Flying Training for RAF pilots in training.

James Heappey: 80 weeks from Elementary Flying Training to beginning Basic Fast Jet Flying Training.

Air Force: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between graduating from RAF officer training and starting phase 2 pilot training.

James Heappey: 24 weeks.

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential use by Russia in Ukraine of weapons systems provided by (a) Iran, (b) China, (c) North Korea and (d) Syria.

James Heappey: Russia has increasingly struggled to secure critical inputs and technologies needed for its war against Ukraine as a result of unprecedented sanctions and export controls imposed by our broad coalition of partners and allies. The Government is committed to working with allies to isolate Russia further, and we will collectively hold any foreign state accountable on the provision of weapon systems to Russia for potential use against Ukraine.

Ukraine: Armed Conflict

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of Iranian Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles currently being used by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine.

James Heappey: The Government takes the deepening alliance between Russia and Iran as a serious threat. The Ukrainian Armed Forces has identified the use of drone attacks on critical infrastructure and buildings as Iranian Shahed-136 weapons. The supply and deployments of such explosive drones to Russia violates UN sanctions.

Typhoon Aircraft

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the average time between beginning the Typhoon operational conversion course and achieving Combat Ready status.

James Heappey: The average time between beginning the Typhoon operational conversion course and achieving Combat Ready status is 14 Months.

AWACS: Training

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when will the first Wedgetail operational conversion course begin.

James Heappey: The first Wedgetail AEW Mk1 Operational Conversion Course is due to start in 2024. However, UK crew members and engineers are already in training with the Royal Australian Air Force through our Seed Corn Programme.

AWACS: Crew

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the expected mission crew composition of the Wedgetail.

James Heappey: The Wedgetail AEW Mk1 will have 12 crew members made up of two pilots and ten mission crew.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft: Crew

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any current Poseidon pilots hold civilian airline licences.

James Heappey: The information is not held as a civilian airline licence is not a mandatory requirement for entry to the Royal Air Force, nor are individuals mandated to declare they hold the licence.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is for a new claim for the Personal Independence Payment to be (a) processed and (b) paid.

Claire Coutinho: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pensioners

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what meetings she has held with organisations representing pensioners since her appointment.

Claire Coutinho: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Work and Pensions: Railways

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on first class train travel for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in (i) 2020, (i) 2021 and (iii) 2022.

Claire Coutinho: £'s  MinistersCivil ServantsTotalFirst Class Rail Travel2020199.371,515.98 1,715.35 2021-910.10 910.10 2022-1,330.35 1,330.35 Total 199.37  3,756.43  3,955.80  Source: QS Travel App and ABM FTE App.

Children: Maintenance

Sarah Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help minimise the financial impact of a failure to pay child maintenance on the receiving parent.

Claire Coutinho: It is a key principle that unpaid child maintenance should be paid immediately. Where a parent fails to pay on time or in full, the CMS will take action to re-establish compliance and collect any unpaid amounts that have accrued. Where compliance cannot be achieved the CMS actively pursues all outstanding child maintenance using a variety of enforcement options including deductions from earnings, deductions from benefits and identifying and securing cash balances and assets through its enforcement actions. If non-compliance persists, then sanctions including commitment to prison or the disqualification of a driving licence and removal of passport is considered.

Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the adequacy of the (a) size and (b) resources of the data and analytics team within her Department.

Claire Coutinho: DWP regularly assess Data and Analytics capability and capacity based on assessment of DWP requirements. DWP have assessed this requirement as part of the Spending Review settlement process alongside other priorities. This has included looking at the data and analytics outcomes that DWP need to deliver, and whether the technical infrastructure, capability and capacity are appropriately aligned.

Universal Credit

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of whether there is a link between people (a) applying for, (b) claiming and (c) under sanction in relation to universal credit and instances of (i) attempted suicide and (ii) suicide.

Victoria Prentis: Attempted suicides and suicides are very complex issues. Where there is an allegation that the Department’s actions may have contributed to this outcome, we take it very seriously.Ultimately, Coroners have responsibility for concluding the cause of death. Their investigations and conclusions are made at public hearings and published. If a risk of other deaths occurring in similar circumstances is identified, Coroners will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report which is published on the judiciary website.The Department also conducts Internal Process Reviews (IPRs). These are internal retrospective investigations, focused on organisational learning. An IPR will be conducted in all cases where:There is a suggestion or allegation that the Department’s actions or omissions may have negatively contributed to the customer’s circumstances, AND a customer has suffered serious harm, has died (including by suicide) or where we have reason to believe there has been an attempted suicide ORThe Department is asked to participate in a Safeguarding Adults Review, a Significant Case Review, or is named as an Interested Party at an inquest. An IPR will be conducted regardless of whether there is an allegation against the Department.

Department for Work and Pensions: Barrow in Furness

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact that the closure of Phoenix House on those seeking to claim (a) Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, (b) Pneumoconiosis compensation, and (c) the Mesothelioma Scheme due to asbestos-related illnesses.

Claire Coutinho: Plans to close Phoenix House were announced in 2017. Capability is being built in both Bradford and Barnsley to ensure the Department can continue to process claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit when Barrow closes, to the same high quality. This includes those customers who claim with asbestos related diseases, or under schemes such as the “Workers’ Compensation Scheme, Pneumoconiosis (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 and the 2008 Mesothelioma Scheme.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will uprate benefits in April 2023 in line with inflation.

Victoria Prentis: The Secretary of State has a statutory annual obligation to review state pensions and benefits. Her review will commence following the publication of the relevant indices by the Office for National Statistics and her decisions will be announced to Parliament shortly.

Universal Credit

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants her Department plans on going through Universal Credit migration before April 2023.

Victoria Prentis: The Department outlined its plan for Managed Migration in its publication “Completing the move to Universal Credit".

Employment

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the principal reasons for which the average age of labour market exit has changed in the period since (a) 2019 and (b) the earliest year for which data is readily available.

Victoria Prentis: The average age of exit from the labour market was published within the ‘Economic labour market status of individuals aged 50 and over, trends over time’ Official Statistics, published on 8th September 2022, with latest data relating to 2022. The changes in the average age of exit between 2019 and 2021 – which saw the average age of exit fall from 65.3 years to 65.1 years for men and from 64.3 years to 64.0 years for women, reflect challenges in the labour market amongst older workers during the pandemic period, which saw the employment rate falling for the 50–64 year-olds age group and the inactivity rate increasing. Between 2021 and 2022, the average age of exit has increased for both men (from 65.1 years to 65.4 years) and women (from 64.0 years to 64.3 years).  There has been a steady upward trend in the average age of exit, over the past 20 years (from 63.2 years in 1999 to 65.3 years in 2019 for men, and from 60.8 years in 1999 to 64.3 years in 2019 for women). This trend reflected increasing employment rates for both men and women over this period and, during which time, the State Pension age increased.

Low Pay

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the research by Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith entitled Supporting progression out of low pay: a call to action, published on 1 July 2021, which recommendations she has (a) accepted and (i) is implementing and (ii) will implement in future and (b) rejected.

Victoria Prentis: The Government recognises the importance of supporting people to progress in work and welcomes Baroness McGregor-Smith’s report. We have considered her recommendations carefully and the response setting out this government’s approach to progression will be published shortly.

Social Security Benefits: Visually Impaired

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of uprating benefits for blind and partially sighted people before April 2023 in the context of the rising cost of living.

Victoria Prentis: The Secretary of State has a statutory duty to annually review benefits and State Pensions as outlined in the Social Security Administration Act 1992. Following the publication of Average Weekly Earnings for May to July and the Consumer Prices Index for September by the Office for National Statistics, the Secretary of State will now commence her annual review of benefits. When undertaking her review the Secretary of State is required to have regard to the Equality Act 2010. Her decisions will be announced to Parliament shortly and any new benefit / State Pensions rates will become payable from the beginning of the 2023/24 tax year.

Childcare: Tax Allowances

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2022 to Question 62963 on Childcare: Tax Allowances, what plans she has to (a) monitor and (b) implement a service standard for waiting time for reimbursement of childcare costs.

Victoria Prentis: Where childcare is used and paid for during a Universal Credit assessment period, the cost will be reimbursed at the end of the assessment period in which it is used. As the exact waiting time for reimbursement depends on when the claimant reports those costs to DWP, a standard wait time is not appropriate, as the reporting varies. UC Claimants who need help with upfront childcare costs to enter employment or significantly increase their working hours can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund (FSF). This is non-repayable and will pay their initial childcare costs directly to the provider up to the first salary received.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Expenditure

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the expected annual (a) resource and (b) capital expenditure will be on the Major Projects Portfolio projects entitled (i) Universal Credit Programme, (ii) Workplace Transformation, (iii) Pensions Dashboard Programme, (iv) Building Safety Regulator, (v) Restart Programme and (vi) Health Transformation Programme in each financial year of those projects; and if he will place that information in the House of Commons Library.

Victoria Prentis: Available financial information will be set out in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

Workplace Pensions

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has made on the development of Collective Defined Contribution pensions in the UK.

Alex Burghart: Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes have the potential to transform the UK pensions landscape and deliver better retirement outcomes for pension savers. That is why we legislated for single and connected employer CDC schemes which came into effect on 1 August 2022. My department continues to engage with those who are keen to extend CDC provision to help us develop an appropriate framework which would allow well designed and well-run multi-employer and master-trust CDC schemes to operate.

Pensions

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of pensions payments in future years.

Alex Burghart: The new State Pension was introduced in 2016 and was designed to correct some of the historic unfairness in the previous system, in particular for women, self-employed people and lower paid workers. It forms a clear foundation for individuals alongside workplace and private savings to provide for the retirement they want. Together, the new State Pension and Automatic Enrolment into workplace pensions provides a more inclusive system that supports retirement saving for the long term.

State Retirement Pensions: Uprating

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increasing the state pension in line with average earnings on levels of pensioner poverty.

Alex Burghart: No recent assessment has been made.

Pensions: Consumer Information

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress has been made on pensions dashboards.

Alex Burghart: Pensions dashboards will make it easier for people to see their pensions information, including their State Pension, in one place online at the touch of a smartphone, laptop, or computer at home. This will help to put people in greater control of their pensions and reconnect them with any lost pension pots.The Government has made significant progress in facilitating the delivery of pensions dashboards, working in close collaboration with key delivery partners including the Pensions Dashboards Programme, which is part of the Money and Pensions Service, the Pensions Regulator and the Financial Conduct Authority.Following extensive consultation with industry and other interested parties, the Department laid the draft Pensions Dashboards Regulations 2022, in Parliament, on 17 October 2022. This is an important milestone, setting out detailed requirements for occupational pension schemes and for organisations seeking to provide a qualifying pensions dashboard service. The Financial Conduct Authority intends to publish final rules for personal and stakeholder pensions shortly. The Pensions Regulator is providing support to help schemes meet their connection deadlines, including through guidance and writing to schemes at least 12 months ahead of their deadline.The Pensions Dashboards Programme is responsible for delivering the digital architecture that will make dashboards work and is due to publish its next progress update report in the coming weeks. The overall delivery timetable remains on track with the Programme focused on building and testing the digital architecture to enable the first cohort of schemes to connect from April 2023.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the performance of Personal Independence Payment assessment providers.

Claire Coutinho: The department closely monitors all aspects of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process, including the performance of assessment providers. Provider performance is measured across a range of service level agreements setting out the department's expectations for service delivery, and they are held to account for their performance. We work continuously with assessment providers to further improve the assessment process. PIP providers have recently introduced new management processes to drive performance across their service. This includes new or enhanced systems for assessing the quality of reports, and any advice the department receives. Assessment providers always strive to provide an excellent service to our claimants and have consistently exceeded their customer satisfaction target of 90%.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Personal Independence Payment assessors have (a) medical experience or (b) expertise on (i) strokes and (ii) other conditions.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Personal Independence Payment Assessors are allocated to assessments based on their medical experience and specific knowledge of relevant conditions.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to revise the assessment process for Personal Independence Payments to (a) increase accessibility and (b) ensure assessors are specifically trained to understand stroke outcomes.

Claire Coutinho: Assessment providers are required to ensure that all health professionals (HPs) carrying out Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments have training and knowledge of the clinical aspects and overall functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments. This includes the disabling effects of strokes on a claimant’s life. The department does not believe it is necessary for providers to allocate HPs to assessments based on whether they are specialists in the specific conditions or impairments of the claimants they are assessing. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that HPs are experts in disability analysis, with emphasis on the effects of health conditions and impairments on the claimant's daily life. HPs can access a wide range of clinical resources to research any conditions presented. This includes evidence-based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies, as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Both PIP providers have a condition insight report on strokes and their effects on claimants’ lives. The department is committed to improving our services and works continuously with providers to improve the assessment process. The Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper, explored how the welfare system can better meet the needs of claimants now and in the future. The aim is to improve claimant experience of our services, including accessibility, enabling independent living, and increasing employment outcomes. We are considering all the responses to the Green Paper proposals and what future policy changes might look like. These will be set out in the White Paper later this year.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what input Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessors have on shaping the PIP assessment to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Claire Coutinho: Where there is sufficient available evidence, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are carried out via a paper-based review (PBR), without the need for a formal consultation. Health Professionals (HPs) can also seek additional information from claimants, GPs or other supporting health professionals where this might help them complete a PBR, where it is appropriate to do so. Where a consultation is necessary, the PIP Assessment Guide (section 1.6) informs HPs to adapt their approach to the needs of the particular claimant, not take a prescriptive approach and ensure that claimants are able to put across the impact of their health condition or impairment in their own words. Assessment providers are required to ensure that all HPs carrying out PIP assessments have training and knowledge of the clinical aspects and overall functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Nature Conservation: EU Law

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to ensure provisions on the protection of nature transposed from EU law into UK law are upheld in legislation.

Trudy Harrison: We have been clear about the importance of environmental protection across the United Kingdom, not least through our world leading Environment Act, which includes a legally binding target to halt the decline of nature by 2030. We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision. Earlier this year we published a Nature Recovery Green Paper, setting out proposals to reform our system of protections, including the Habitats Regulations. The Nature Recovery Green Paper consultation closed in May and we are now in the process of analysing responses and will publish a response on conclusion of this exercise. My department is carefully considering the scope of the delegated powers in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, and whether they can be used to deliver a better, bespoke British system of nature protections to replace the provisions in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended).

Thames Flood Barrier

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with relevant authorities to ensure that the Thames barrier will be able to cope with fast and heavy rainfall.

Trudy Harrison: London is at risk from many and varied sources of flooding – including tidal, surface water, and groundwater flooding. Surface water flooding is localised and complex. It can happen very quickly, be difficult to predict and can be exacerbated by the impermeable built environment and an overwhelmed drainage system. HM Government is committed to tackling this risk and in April 2020, we made changes to the partnership funding policy to enable more surface water schemes in our new £5.2 billion flood defence programme. Approximately 34% of the 2,000 flood defences planned will be for surface water management.  This includes £29.4 million being spent in London – over three times the amount that was allocated in the previous investment programme. Combined with partnership funding, this investment is forecast to better protect 2,590 properties by 2027. Since 1982, the Thames Barrier has been protecting London from flooding caused by tidal surges. It works with the complex systems of assets (including flood walls, gates, embankments and smaller assets) along the Thames and its tributaries to prevent flooding to London’s homes, businesses and key infrastructure. This is what it is designed to do. It does not have a role in mitigating other forms of flooding, such as from surface water. The Environment Agency currently closes the Thames Barrier 5 times a year on average to prevent tidal flooding. We expect the Thames Barrier to continue to protect London from tidal flooding up until 2070. The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan identifies several long-term options for a future Thames Barrier to protect the Thames Estuary and London to the end of the century and beyond.

Environment Protection: Capital Investment

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking to steps to ensure that (a) environmental protections and (b) ancient woodlands will not be negatively affected by the creation of investment zones.

Trudy Harrison: We are committed to halting the decline of nature by 2030 and will not undermine our obligations to the environment in pursuit of growth. A strong environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations, marine protections and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision.Making sure that our ancient woodlands are adequately protected and suitably managed to provide a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to society remains a key HM Government commitment.The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.Natural England and the Forestry Commission have published 'standing advice' for ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees. It is a material planning consideration for local planning authorities (LPAs) and as such should be taken into account when making planning decisions that affect ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees.HM Government have also recently updated the new Keepers of Time policy, providing updates to HM Government's policy to recognise the value of England's ancient and native woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. It restates our commitment to evaluate the threats facing these habitats and sets out our updated principles and objectives to protect and improve them for future generations.

Air Pollution: Greater London

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Great Smog.

Trudy Harrison: Defra has no current plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Great Smog.

Waste Disposal: Monitoring

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory digital waste tracking across the UK by 31 December 2022.

Trudy Harrison: Earlier this year my Department consulted on proposals for the introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking and a consultation stage impact assessment was published alongside this consultation.

Environment Protection: Regulation

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report released by the Wildlife and Countryside Link, published on 19 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusion that the UK may miss its nature pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030 unless the Government's plans to deregulate environmental protections are reversed.

Trudy Harrison: We are committed to delivering our legally binding target to halt nature’s decline by 2030 and to all our international commitments and objectives for biodiversity, including our commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30by30). The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes. In the Nature Recovery Green Paper, HM Government set out initial proposals to reform the Habitat Regulations and outlined the approach to 30by30. We are reviewing responses and will consider any appropriate legislative vehicles or relevant powers to implement any confirmed proposals, including the Retained EU Law Bill. We are also now working at pace with Natural England, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and external experts and partners to develop the assessment criteria that will inform what land will count towards 30by30 and how it will be protected, managed and monitored.

Flood Control: Greater London

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of regreening areas of London to improve flooding preparedness by managing surface water run off.

Trudy Harrison: The risk management of surface water flooding is the responsibility of lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) in partnership with highways authorities and water companies. It is for LLFAs to determine the best approach to mitigating the risk, including the use of blue green infrastructure such as regreening. HM Government fully supports the use of blue green infrastructure, including sustainable drainage systems, grey water recycling and natural flood management where these are appropriate to help manage surface water. We have placed a greater emphasis on this in our 25 Year Environment Plan, our Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy Statement and through updated planning policy. HM Government made changes to its capital programme’s partnership funding rules to enable more surface water schemes – over the lifetime of the 2021-2027 capital programme the Environment Agency expect that at least one third of schemes will support surface water flood management. In addition, we have launched a new £100 million frequently flooded allowance to support communities that have experienced frequent flooding from any source, and are running a £200 million innovative resilience fund across 25 LLFA areas, many of which are exploring solutions to tackle surface water.

Floods: Greater London

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of the finding of the The London Flood Review findings on flooding in London on 12 and 25 July 2021 including on risk to homes of flooding by effluvia in the event of very heavy rainfall and flooding.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with local authorities to improve London’s sewage infrastructure to prepare for flooding.

Trudy Harrison: HM Government fully recognises the impact flooding incidents have on individuals and communities and sympathises with those affected. Flooding has a devastating effect, both in terms of physical damage and impacts on health, including mental health, and financially. Following the flooding in London last July, local risk management authorities and other partners, led by the Mayor of London and London Councils, came together to discuss how best to mitigate surface water flood risk. This culminated in a Task and Finish Group, co-chaired by the Environment Agency, that looked at a range of issues and made a series of recommendations. Alongside this, Thames Water commissioned an independent review into the performance of its network. The final report sets out several recommendations for Thames Water and other partners. Since then, they have formed a London Strategic Surface Water Group, which will meet for the first time in December. The Group will ensure that the findings of the London Flood Review are considered and, where there is agreement, who is best placed to implement them. The Environment Agency’s London Area Director and an independent member of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee are members of the Group. Having a robust drainage system, both now and for future demand, is crucial in helping to mitigate environmental surface water flooding impacts. To ensure this, the Environment Act 2021 places a new duty on water companies to produce comprehensive Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, setting out how they will manage and develop their drainage and sewerage networks over the long-term. These plans will provide a full assessment of the condition and capacity of the nation’s sewer networks. They are being developed in collaboration with other risk management authorities, identifying collaborative short, medium and long-term solutions on a way forward which could include sewerage upgrades where appropriate. My officials are in touch with the local Environment Agency team and external partners on these matters.

Marine Environment: North East

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a peer review was undertaken of his Department’s conclusion that an algae bloom was probably to blame for the die off of sea creatures off the North East coast over the last year.

Mark Spencer: Defra group, including the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Environment Agency, carried out a thorough investigation seeking causes of the mass mortality incident that occurred towards the end of 2021. A summary of this investigation was published in May. As the May publication was an investigation summary rather than a technical report, we did not seek a peer review, in line with normal practice. The algal bloom conclusions were based on the best available evidence in the time allowed. Priority was given to information from peer-reviewed literature, standardised research techniques and accredited testing methodology. It is intended that the ongoing Cefas research and development will undergo peer review ahead of publication next year, due to generating primary evidence. All data relating to the conclusions of the initial investigation are due to be published in the coming weeks. This will inform the on-going collaboration between HM Government scientists and external researchers.

Salmon: Canada

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Canadian counterpart on the impact of drought on the numbers of wild salmon in Canadian waters.

Mark Spencer: The United Kingdom is a contracting party to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). As such, HM Government is fully engaged with other contracting parties, Canada included, to help conserve wild North Atlantic salmon stocks. Drought was not discussed explicitly at the 2022 NASCO meeting. In 2023 NASCO will be running a special session on the impacts of climate change on North Atlantic salmon.

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farm businesses are participating in Environmental Land Management scheme programmes according to the direct payments (a) under £30,000 (b) £30,000-£50,000 (c) £50,000-£150,000 (d) more than £150,000 received by each business in the last full year.

Mark Spencer: The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the first of the new environmental land management schemes. As of 18th October 2022, the following number of farm businesses entered into agreement worth:Payment GroupingCountUnder £30K1543£30K - £50K60£50K - £150K41More than £150K2TOTAL1646

Palm Oil

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is the Government’s policy to reduce the use of palm oil in UK supply chains.

Scott Mann: We are committed to supporting sustainable production, import, and use of palm oil. Oil palm is a very efficient crop, producing more oil per hectare than other vegetable oil crops. Substitution of other oils (for example, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower), which typically require significantly more land to produce, may lead to greater environmental impacts as more land is converted to agricultural use. We are working closely with industry, including with supermarkets and manufacturers, to support sustainable production and use of palm oil. For example, in 2012, the Government established the UK Roundtable on Sourcing Sustainable Palm Oil, bringing together key British businesses and supporting them to shift to sustainable palm oil supply chains. Latest reports show that 71% of palm oil and palm kernel oil imports into the United Kingdom were certified sustainable in 2020 – up from 16% in 2010. It is not HM Government’s policy to reduce the overall use of palm oil in United Kingdom supply chains. HM Government is also committed to tackling the use of illegally produced forest risk commodities – agricultural commodities whose production is associated with wide-scale forest loss, which currently include palm oil. We have introduced world-leading due diligence legislation to make it illegal for larger businesses operating in the United Kingdom to use key forest risk commodities produced on land illegally occupied or used. From December 2021 to March 2022, we consulted on which specific commodities we should regulate through initial secondary legislation. This included seeking views on regulating the following shortlist of commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, maize, palm oil, rubber, and soy.

Trade Agreements: Animal Welfare

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on and (b) steps he has taken to ensure that all trade deals include the strongest animal welfare standards.

Scott Mann: HM Government was elected on a manifesto commitment that ‘in all of our trade negotiations, we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.’ The United Kingdom is rightly proud of the high animal welfare standards that underpin our high-quality Great British produce. We are standing firm in trade negotiations to make sure any new trade deals live up to the values of farmers and consumers across the United Kingdom and will maintain our high standards as part of any future free trade agreements. Our Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand are the first time either country has agreed a standalone chapter on animal welfare. These include commitments not to lower our animal welfare standards and to cooperate on improving standards further. We have agreed to work with both countries internationally, a strong statement recognising animals as sentient beings, and a commitment to share information and expertise on animal welfare. Both agreements also protect the United Kingdom’s sovereign right to set our own animal welfare policies. These are all matters which Defra discusses regularly with other Departments, at both Ministerial and official level.

Home Office

Asylum: Deportation

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of foreign nationals removed from the UK under zero notice removal procedures were still waiting for a decision on an outstanding asylum claim at the time of their removal, in each month since January 2022; and how many and what proportion of those foreign nationals did not have access to legal advice at the time of their removal.

Tom Pursglove: Thank you for your question. We are currently working to provide a comprehensive response and I will provide an answer as soon as it is available.

Undocumented Migrants: Detainees

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is the Government's policy to provide legal advice to people who arrive in the UK in small boats and are transferred to the former Ministry of Defence site in Manston, Kent for initial processing in their own language.

Tom Pursglove: Thank you for your question. We are currently working to provide a comprehensive response and I will provide an answer as soon as it is available.

Emergency Services Network: Finance

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the new Emergency Services Network (a) was originally projected to cost and (b) is currently projected to cost as of 19 October 2022.

Jeremy Quin: The estimated cost of providing critical emergency services communications between 2015/16 and 2036/37 is £11.3bn, as per the plan agreed in the July 2021 Full Business Case.Within this total, the cost of the programme to deliver ESN is £1.6bn, compared with the original estimate of £1.2bn. The £11.3bn also includes Airwave and Legacy contracts, and the ongoing costs of the replacement ESN service.This assumed Airwave and Legacy system costs of approximately £450m annually (before any impact from the CMA findings), compared with ESN at around £250m per annum.There are a number of elements that may impact the overall delivery cost and time.This includes but is not limited to the recent provisional CMA findings into Motorola’s dual role as owner of Airwave and supplier on the programme and any extension to the Airwave shutdown date beyond the end of 2026, as well as contract negotiations for both Lot 2 and 3 as these are due to end in 2024.Our goal is to work to deliver ESN as swiftly and safely as possible.

Police Custody: Children

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children were detained in police custody in (a) Lewisham East constituency, (b) the London Borough of Lewisham, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each reporting year since 2017.

Jeremy Quin: For the first time, information on the ethnicity, gender and age of children subjected to strip searches or intimate searches, that have taken place whilst a person is detained in police custody, is being collected by the Home Office.Data have not been received from all forces, but data that have been collected are scheduled for publication on 17 November 2022 in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical publication: Police powers and procedures: Other PACE powers, England and Wales, year ending 31 March 2022 - National statistics announcement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).These data are collected at Police Force Area level only. Breakdowns by constituency or borough will not be published.

Emergency Services Network

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the planned completion date for the Emergency Services Network.

Jeremy Quin: In 2021 the Business Case for ESN set out the expectation that transition to ESN would take place in 2024 with Airwave shut down by 2026.However, recent changes in our commercial arrangements with one of our key suppliers means that we are exploring future options for the delivery of the ‘user services’ contract with ESN.This activity will have an impact on the timetable for ESN delivery and we will know more once any re-procurement activity concludes and integrated delivery plans are built. We will share more information when it is known.Our goal is to work to deliver ESN as swiftly and safely as possible.

Psilocybin

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the effects of psilocybin and the current level of regulation of the drug.

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason his Department classifies psilocybin as a Class A Drug without commissioning an analysis of that drug's potential harms.

Jeremy Quin: The Government has no plans to commission the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to assess the classification of Psilocybin. Ministers are under a duty to consider advice from the ACMD prior to making regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (The 1971 Act), including any regulations which reclassify existing controlled drugs. Psilocybin, as an “ester of psilocin”, is controlled as a Class A drug under the 1971 Act and has been since the Act was introduced.Psilocybin is also placed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Psilocin is subject to the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, to which the United Kingdom is signatory.A number of drugs which have been controlled under the 1971 Act for a considerable period of time have not been subject to analysis or recent analysis of harm. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs regularly provides advice on the harms of drugs, and these are published on the gov.uk website.

Public Order Bill: Equality

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the potential impact on equality of New Clause 11 of the Public Order Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Quin: New Clause 11 was added to the Public Order Bill by a majority in the House of Commons. The Home Office is obliged to consider the equalities impacts of all new policies.

Airwave Service: Operating Costs

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the (a) daily, (b) monthly and (c) yearly cost for the use of the airwave service since 2017.

Jeremy Quin: From 2016/17 to 2021/22 the Airwave System has averaged approximately £370m per annum, which includes network and devices for the three emergency services. With the impact of inflation, the projected annual costs for the Airwave System were anticipated to be approximately £450m per year in the July 2021 Full Business Case. To note that there are other Airwave users beyond the three emergency services that are invoiced directly, and are not captured in these costs.There are a number of elements that may impact the overall delivery cost and time. This includes but is not limited to the recent provisional CMA findings into Motorola’s dual role as owner of Airwave and supplier on the programme and any extension to the Airwave shutdown date beyond the end of 2026, as well as negotiations for both Lot 2 and 3 as both of these contracts are due to end in 2024. Our goal is to work to deliver ESN as swiftly and safely as possible.

Visas: Overseas Students

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many graduate student visa holders are accompanied by five or six dependents.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office does not routinely publish data on the number of recipients of international student visas who are accompanied by dependants.Information on our immigration routes is available as part of our transparency data and can be found at: Visas and Citizenship data: Q2 2022.

Visas: Families

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of family visa applications had passed the six month timeframe for a response as of 19 October 2022.

Tom Pursglove: Data on the number or proportion of family visa applications which have taken more than six months to process does not form part of any current transparency data and is not published.The transparency data does, however, include a range of processing and service standard data and can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Members: Correspondence

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department intends to reply to the correspondence of 3 October 2022 from the Rt hon. Member for East Ham, case reference ST95332.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office, UK Visas and Immigration, MP Account Management team sent a holding response to the Rt Hon. Member’s office on 20 October 2022 and will issue a substantive response within the next week.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the news story by his Department entitled Fee removed for No Time Limit applications, published on 6 April 2022, what recent steps his Department has taken to help support people who are unable to use online services to make a no time limit application.

Tom Pursglove: Customers who are making an immigration application from inside the UK can get help filling in their online Home Office application. This service is available to customers who are making a No time Limit application and is known as ‘Assisted Digital’ support. The support service is free to use for customers who do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device, do not have internet access, or do not have access to a device like a laptop or smart phone.

Deportation

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals were removed from the UK under a zero notice removal procedure following initial processing in Manston, Kent, in each month since January 2022; and how many and what proportion of those people were Albanian.

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals who entered the UK via a small boats crossing have been removed from the UK before submitting an asylum claim, following initial processing at the former Ministry of Defence site in Manston, Kent, in each month since January 2022; and what proportion of those individuals were (a) Albanian and (b) of other nationality.

Tom Pursglove: No migrants have been removed from the UK directly from the facility at Manston without the required notification period as set out in published guidance. Where a person is refused entry on arrival to the UK, and they are removed within 7 days of refusal, there is no requirement to provide an additional notice period for removal. Individuals are only refused entry to the UK following an interview, and the reasons for the refusal are explained to them prior to removal. All persons have the opportunity to claim asylum during this process. No one has been removed whilst they had a pending asylum claim.

Cabinet Office: Ministerial Responsibility

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what responsibility he has for borders and migration policy; what responsibility for borders and migration has been retained by the Home Office; what work is being conducted by civil servants in his Department on borders and migration; and what Machinery of Government changes have happened in relation to responsibility for borders and migration.

Tom Pursglove: Responsibility for migration and borders policy remains with the Home Office. Issues relating to migration have impacts across Government and we work with other departments, including with the Cabinet Office, to consider them.

Asylum

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications to her policies of the debate entitled Safe third countries for asylum seekers, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 12 October 2022.

Tom Pursglove: We are aware of the debate on third country processes and the subsequent non-legally binding resolutions arising from it by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as adopted on 12 October.Our inadmissibility policies in respect of safe third countries, which are longstanding, and were recently strengthened in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, are the consequence of full and careful consideration of the legal and operational context. We are confident that these policies and the processes they underpin, are compliant with relevant domestic and international laws and agreements, including the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Asylum: Temporary Accommodation

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2022 to Question 60188, on Asylum: Temporary Accommodation which stated that her Department is using five hotels to accommodate young people temporarily (a) whether any of those hotels exclusively accommodates unaccompanied minors and (b) whether any of those hotels are in Northern Ireland.

Tom Pursglove: The UK is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of people making life-threatening journeys to cross the Channel. These boats are often carrying unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) and this has placed unprecedented pressure on the National Transfer Scheme. Out of necessity and with the children’s best interests in mind, we have arranged for them to be accommodated on an emergency and temporary basis in hotels whilst placements with local authorities are being vigorously pursued. These emergency interim hotels only accommodate UASC. There are no emergency interim hotels for UASC in Northern Ireland.

Migrant Workers: Personal Records

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information the (a) Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority, (b) Employment Agencies Inspectorate and (c) other labour inspectorates are required to share information with Immigration Enforcement relating to the personal data or immigration status of workers.

Tom Pursglove: There is no legal requirement for labour abuse authorities, agencies, or inspectorates, to share information with Immigration Enforcement in relation to the personal data or immigration status of workers. Referrals may be made to Immigration Enforcement via the ‘Report Immigration Crime’ tool on gov.uk, or in the format of an intelligence report. These referrals may include personal data which could relate to immigration offenders.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Private Rented Housing: Students

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions his Department has held with stakeholders in the student accommodation sector on the proposals in the White Paper: A fairer private rented sector.

Andrew Stephenson: In 2019 the Government published the consultation - 'A New Deal for Renting: Resetting the balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and tenants'. This sought views on how the new tenancy system should operate, including student housing. The Department has built on the feedback received from the consultation through extensive and detailed stakeholder engagement, which fed into the proposals outlined in the White Paper - 'A Fairer Private Rented Sector'.Since the publication of the White Paper, the Department has continued to engage with student accommodation stakeholders, and we are considering how to best support the rental market.

Affordable Housing

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government plans to change the requirements in new developments for affordable housing.

Lee Rowley: Should any proposals to change aspects of housing policy be deemed reasonable and proportionate, we will bring forward those proposals in the usual manner.

Housing: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much public money has (a) already been invested in and (b) been pledged to the York Central site.

Lee Rowley: The department has allocated £77.1 million in housing investment grant to the York Central project. To date, £14.6 million has been drawn down.

Help to Buy Scheme: Swindon

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people in Swindon have taken part in the Help to Buy scheme.

Lee Rowley: Help to Buy Equity Loan has helped over 361,000 households buy a new-build home from its launch on 1 April 2013 until the end of March 2022. There have been 2,593 completions using the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in Swindon since 1 April 2013.

Leasehold: Reform

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to bring forward further leasehold reform to simplify the process for buying and extending lease agreements.

Lee Rowley: We are due to bring forward further leasehold reforms later in this parliament.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Expenditure

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the expected annual spend is of the (a) Building Safety Programme ACM Remediation, (b) Levelling Up Fund, (c) UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, (d) Planning Reform programme, (e) Grenfell Site and Programme, (f) Housing Infrastructure Fund, (g) Building Safety Programme - Non ACM Remediation, (h) Towns Fund, (i) Freeports programme, (j) Electoral Integrity programme in each of the financial years from 2022-23 until the end year of each programme or project, providing resource and capital spending.

Dehenna Davison: The table below sets out the expected annual spend for each of the programmes listed: Programme Resource Budgets £m by financial year Capital Budgets £m by financial year 22/2323/2424/25 22/2323/2424/25Building Safety Programme ACM Remediation 0.00.00.0 58.69.40.0Levelling Up Fund 20.025.020.0 413.01,213.01,120.0Planning Reform Programme 10.950.469.3 0.03.02.5Grenfell Site Management and Memorial Commission 7.37.55.3 18.726.620.0Housing Infrastructure Fund 11.58.04.0 969.11,206.0943.6Building Safety Programme- Non ACM Remediation 18.134.831.9 839.8945.01,050.0Towns Fund 38.631.821.8 532.0937.0361.2Freeports 7.37.24.9 68.593.551.5Electoral Integrity Programme 16.040.040.0 0.00.00.0Expected costs for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will be published in due course in line with the Government Major Projects Portfolio reporting process.The future years data covers the remainder of the SR period. These figures are indicative and may be revised as part of the normal business planning process. Several programmes extend beyond 2024/25 into future Spending Reviews and funding for the remaining years will be settled as part of future fiscal events.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Taxis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much his Department spent on taxi cabs for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each of the last three years.

Lee Rowley: Records show the department spent the following on taxi cabs:  2020 Civil Servants £298.812020 Minsters £0  2021 Civil Servants £81.222021 Ministers £0  2022 Civil Servants £109.912022 Ministers £0

Planning Permission

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his policy on the liberalisation of planning.

Lee Rowley: The Government keeps all planning legislation, national frameworks and policies under constant review. Any announcements on changes will be made in the usual way in due course.

Capital Investment

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when detail on the full conditions for Investment Zones will be published.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what deadline his Department has set for the establishment of the first Investment Zones.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what criteria and process his Department will use to determine which local authorities become Investment Zones.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, against what criteria will the success of Investment Zones be measured.

Lee Rowley: The Expression of Interest process for Investment Zones closed on Friday 14 October. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is now assessing the proposals it received and will announce those sites that have been taken forward for delivery planning in due course.We have published guidance and FAQs covering the EOI process and the assessment framework on GOV.UK.Those sites that are taken forward will work with the Government to develop delivery plans and conduct relevant legal assessments to confirm that sites will represent value for money for taxpayers and deliver the objectives of the Investment Zones programme.

Refugees: Ukraine

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to provide housing support for refugees who came to Britain under the Ukrainian visa scheme in April 2022.

Andrew Stephenson: We are working closely with local councils to understand where pressures may be and are actively exploring options to find suitable long-term accommodation for the Ukrainians who are likely to stay in this country beyond their initial sponsorship period.The updated guidance for the Homes for Ukraine guests, hosts and councils setting out all the support options available to them can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welcome-a-guide-for-ukrainians-arriving-in-the-uk/your-living-arrangements-4-to-6-months-after-moving-to-the-uk.

Refugees: Ukraine

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what estimate his Department has made of the number of Ukrainian refugees on (a) the Ukraine Family Scheme and (b) Homes for Ukraine Scheme visas who have (i) become homeless and (ii) presented as homeless to their local authority since moving to the UK.

Andrew Stephenson: Homelessness management information pertaining to Ukrainian nationals in England is updated on gov.uk every 4 weeks. The most recent update includes data up to 23 September 2022. A total of 1,915 Ukrainian households have been owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty, based on a response rate of 71% of local authorities. Of this figure, 850 households arrived under the Ukraine Family Scheme and 955 households via the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme. Further information can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-management-information-ukrainian-nationals-england.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of people living in (a) Luton Borough Council, (b) Central Bedfordshire Council, (c) Bedfordshire and (d) England who may not have a valid photo ID suitable to enable them to vote in the May 2023 elections as of 1 October 2022.

Andrew Stephenson: The Cabinet Office has published an extensive survey on levels of ownership of photographic identification, which includes geographical breakdowns. The results have been published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voter-identification-photographic-id-ownership-in-great-britain).

Homes for Ukraine Scheme: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people in Northern Ireland have been issued with sponsor payments under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Andrew Stephenson: The data on the number of tariff and thank you payments made to all local authorities between March and May 2022 can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-funding-march-to-may-2022/annex-a-homes-for-ukraine-local-authority-funding-allocations-march-to-may-2022-northern-ireland.Note: The number of thank you payments may be less than the number of sponsoring households due to delays in authorities making thank you payments, or sponsors not accepting thank you payments.There is flexibility for how councils can deliver the sponsor payments. Lead sponsors are not eligible for the £350 monthly payment if they are charging the guest rent. For the sponsor, the £350 payment is payable monthly in arrears backdated to the date the Ukrainian national commenced residence in the sponsor’s accommodation.

Polling Stations: Proof of Identity

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of mirrors that will need to be purchased for polling stations for elections in May 2023 to comply with new regulations on voter identification.

Andrew Stephenson: We estimate that one mirror will need to be purchased for each polling station and assume that there are 40,000 polling stations based on the 2019 elections.

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the £350 per month payment given to Homes for Ukraine hosts, in the context of rising levels of inflation.

Andrew Stephenson: We recognise the growing pressure on family finances, and the challenges that households are facing with the rising costs of living. We are continuing to work with local councils and sponsors to support them with their hosting arrangements.

Refugees: Reading East

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support his Department provides to Ukrainian refugees in Reading East constituency.

Andrew Stephenson: Homes for Ukraine arrivals will be able to live and work in the UK for up to three years and have access to benefits, healthcare, employment, and other support. We are providing funding to councils at a rate of £10,500 per guest to enable them to provide support to individuals and families to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities.   We are also providing sponsors with £350 monthly 'thank you' payments for up to 12 months to help with the associated costs of opening their home. DWP is working with Ukrainian guests and employers to signpost and match job opportunities.   Work is also underway with BEIS and DHSC to engage larger employers through round table discussions. DfE is improving signposting of and ensuring accessibility of childcare options We have made amendments to eligibility criteria to ensure arrivals from Ukraine under one of the Government's schemes are now eligible for housing assistance from day one of their arrival.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to take steps to (a) abolish Section 21 no-fault evictions and (b) implement other reforms to the private rental system in England.

Andrew Stephenson: Everyone deserves to live in a safe and secure home, and the government has repeated its commitment to the ban on section 21 no-fault evictions to protect tenants. Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the Government. We intend to legislate in this parliament.

Rented Housing: Standards

Liz Twist: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress the Government has made on halving the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030.

Andrew Stephenson: The Government remains committed to levelling up the country and tackling non-decency. The Government has committed to review the Decent Homes Standard to make sure it is fit for the present day and responses from a recent consultation on a Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector are currently being analysed.   For those who live in poor quality social housing, we have introduced new legislation to improve the quality and regulation of social housing, give residents performance information so they can hold their landlord to account and ensure that when residents make a complaint, landlords take quick and effective action to put things right.

Private Rented Housing

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the indicative timescales are for the introduction of the proposed renters reform legislation.

Andrew Stephenson: Everyone deserves to live in a safe and secure home, and the government has repeated its commitment to the ban on section 21 no-fault evictions to protect tenants. Ensuring a fair deal for renters remains a priority for the Government. We intend to legislate in this parliament.

Park Homes: Fees and Charges

Sir Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to introduce legislative proposals to change the park homes pitch fee review inflationary index to the consumer prices index; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stephenson: We are actively considering options for legislating to change the inflationary index to the Consumer Price Index, including through supporting a Private Member’s Bill in this Session.

Local Government Finance

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on ensuring that local government is funded to cover increased cost pressures facing the sector as part of the upcoming Medium Term Fiscal Plan.

Paul Scully: The Spending Review settlement took into account a wide range of cost pressures. We announced around £1.6 billion additional grant for local government in 2022/23, including funding for Supporting Families and Cyber Resilience. The Local Government Finance Settlement made available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22.We acknowledge that inflation forecasts are higher than they were at the Spending Review. How that interacts with the finances of local government is not straightforward. For example, some councils will have energy contracts expiring soon, whereas others will be fixed for some time. We are working with local authorities to more fully understand the nature of the issues that have emerged in recent months, considering the issue of rising inflation along with other challenges such as energy price rises and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.The Chancellor will set out further details of it’s the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on Monday 31 October. The OBR forecast will also be published on that date.

Housing: Fire Prevention

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Government's draft developer remediation contract published on 13 July 2022, when the final draft of that contract will be published.

Paul Scully: The Government published a draft of the developer remediation contract on 13 July 2022 and has since received comments and held discussions on the draft with various parties. We are in advanced negotiations with developers and will publish the contract once it has been finalised.

Social Services: Finance

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will take steps to provide additional funding to local authorities to help support social care providers at risk of closure due to increasing (a) energy and (b) other operational costs.

Paul Scully: The Government is committed to working with local authorities to manage the pressures of inflation on adult social care.Through the new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the Government is acting to provide a price reduction to ensure that all businesses and other non-domestic customers, such as social care providers, are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. The price reduction will run initially for 6 months covering energy use from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023.The Government has announced a £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund to speed up the safe discharge of people from hospitals into social care support. A full announcement will be made in due course.

Social Services: Finance

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if she will take steps to ensure any change to the funding of local authorities does not include a reduction in funding for adult social care.

Paul Scully: Local authorities can make use of over £1 billion of additional resource specifically for social care in 2022/23. This includes an increase in the Social Care Grant, the improved Better Care Fund, a 1% adult social care precept, and deferred flexibilities from last year's settlement. A further £162 million is being provided to enable local authorities to move towards paying providers a fair cost of care.   For many councils, adults’ social care is a key priority and one of the largest areas of spending. The Local Government Finance Settlement makes available £54.1 billion in 2022/23 for local government in England, an increase of up to £3.7 billion on 2021/22 Councils are not expected to rely solely on social care-specific funding to meet adult social care pressures; they also have access to funding from un-ringfenced grants, including the 2022/23 Services Grant worth £822 million, and from council tax On 22 September we also announced a £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund to speed up the safe discharge of people from hospitals and into social care support.   We are working closely with the sector, as we always do, to understand what the impact of cost and demand pressures will be on service delivery and budgets.   Our intention is to publish the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement as soon as is reasonably possible this winter.

Local Government Services: Charities

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of ensuring that charitable providers of (a) community and (b) health services are included in any Government-backed support for Local Authority provision.

Paul Scully: Local councils play an essential role in the fabric of our country and are best placed to understand local funding priorities. The flexibility to make funding decisions at a local level is often why these services are so effective. We are working closely with the sector, as we always do, to understand what the impact of cost and demand pressures will be on service delivery and budgets.The Government also recognises how community hubs, run by local authorities, charities and voluntary and community organisations are vital in delivering the local services on which communities rely. This is why they (and local authorities more broadly) will be eligible to access the package of non-domestic energy support over the next 6 months.

Council Housing: Veterans

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many veterans are on local councils’ council house waiting lists.

Andrew Stephenson: On 31 March 2021, in England, there were 2,665 households on local authority social housing waiting lists given additional preference that contained members of the UK Armed Forces community. This value only includes households with urgent housing need. We do not have data on the total number of veterans on waiting lists.

Temporary Accommodation: Veterans

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many veterans are residing in temporary accommodation.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many Veterans were registered homeless as of the first day of each month of 2022.

Andrew Stephenson: Our veterans have played a vital role in keeping our country safe. The Government is committed to ensuring that they are provided with the support they need. Homelessness statistics for England are collected on a quarterly basis and show levels of veteran homelessness are low. During the period January to March 2022, 510 households owed a homelessness duty included a member with a support need due to service in the Armed Forces, less than 1% of households owed a homelessness duty.Data for temporary accommodation in England does not provide information on the number of households that include a member with a support need due to service in the Armed Forces.

Housing: Environment Protection

Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the investment zones policy announced in the Growth Plan 2022 will allow for the creation of such zones in (a) National Parks and (b) Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Dehenna Davison: While this Government sees Investment Zones as being critical to turbocharging growth across the country, this growth will not come at the expense of downgrading the strong and long-established protections for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.The recently launched Expression of Interest process specifically asks whether the proposed development would be on land that is in or adjacent to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to make sure that we treat these sites with the appropriate care and consideration. The EOI also makes clear that any successful Investment Zone must agree to mitigate the environmental impacts of development.Local consent is critical to this, and Investment Zones will not be imposed on any area or specific site. The Local Planning Authority, that includes National Park Authorities, must support any proposal for an Investment Zone site through the EOI process. Proposals without this local consent will not be taken forward.

Levelling Up Fund

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to revise levelling up funding commitments in the context of rising inflation.

Dehenna Davison: My department is monitoring the situation closely through formal reporting mechanisms and on the ground relationships, allowing us to understand the impact of cost inflation and respond accordingly. We have put in place proportionate project adjustment processes on our two biggest live programmes, the Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund.   This means that where projects need to re-scope or make adjustments to phasing in response to rising costs, we can review and where appropriate agree those quickly, whilst ensuring value for money. Places receiving Town Deals also have greater flexibility to agree necessary adjustments to projects locally UK Shared Prosperity Fund's delegated delivery model and light touch change control process enables local authorities to adjust their plan to react to local need. Local authorities can also use their allocation to fund community measures to reduce the cost of living, including measures to improve energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty.

Planning Permission

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the Government's policy is on ensuring that properties looking to erect an additional floor require planning permission.

Lee Rowley: To support the supply of new homes, national planning policy expects that local planning policies and decisions should respond positively to suitable opportunities to deliver additional new homes above existing residential and commercial premises.We have introduced new permitted development rights to allow certain existing residential and commercial buildings to extend upwards by up to two storeys to create new homes and extra living space. The rights are subject to prior approval by the local planning authority on specific matters, including potential impacts on the amenity of neighbours. This ensures that people who might be affected by such a development can feed their views into the decision making process.We continue to keep the rights under review.

Planning: Inspections

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many cases within the planning inspectorate are currently waiting for a Planning Inspector to be assigned to the case.

Lee Rowley: As at 19 October 2022 The Planning Inspectorate have 7,097 valid appeal cases not currently assigned to an inspector.

Planning Inspectorate

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions his officials have had with the planning inspectorate on delays in assigning case officers.

Lee Rowley: The Director of Planning at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities attends the Planning Inspectorate Board where performance is discussed. Additionally, officials from the Department meet the Inspectorate every month to discuss operational performance and priorities.

Planning Inspectorate: Staff

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many planning inspectors are employed at the planning inspectorate.

Lee Rowley: As at 30 September 2022 The Planning Inspectorate employs 388 planning inspectors. Some of these inspectors work part-time and the total full-time equivalent as at 30 September was 346.

Second Homes: Council Tax

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Policy Paper entitled Levelling Up and Regeneration: further information, published by his Department on 11 May 2022, what his timescale is for providing further information will be available on the proposed alignment test to replace the duty to co-operate.

Lee Rowley: The duty to cooperate is widely agreed not to have achieved this objective.  Therefore, the duty will be abolished by the current draft of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, and replaced by a more flexible requirement for authorities to align emerging plan proposals with neighbouring planning authorities and other public bodies and infrastructure providers where relevant.The new policy requirement will be an important element of local plan examinations by a planning inspector, who can form a planning judgement on the proposals put forward.This policy requirement is still being developed and is intended to be set out in a revised National Planning Policy Framework, which will be subject to further consultation in due course.  However, the important difference is that as a policy requirement, shortcomings in alignment can be capable of being rectified by the planning authority or inspector, whereas under the current duty to cooperate, failures result in the failure of the local plan.

Religious Hatred: Hinduism

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with his officials on tackling Hinduphobia.

Paul Scully: There is no place in our country for hatred towards Hindus and we will seek to stamp it out wherever it occurs. We have some of the strongest legislation in the world to tackle hate crime and we encourage those who have experienced hatred to come forward to the Police or to report to the Police online portal True Vision.

Islamophobia

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate entitled Raising Awareness of and countering Islamophobia, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 11 October 2022.

Paul Scully: The UK is an open, tolerant and welcoming country where Muslims practice their faith in freedom. We recognise the huge contribution British Muslims make to public life and we are committed to celebrating and promoting this. However we are not complacent. This Government takes hate crime very seriously and will not tolerate Anti-Muslim hatred in any form, seeking to stamp it out wherever it occurs.  For those who do suffer discrimination and hate, we have some of the strongest legislation in the world to tackle hate crime. We have supported Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) with just over £4 million between 2016 and 2022 to monitor and combat Anti-Muslim hatred and support victims.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will meet the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish to discuss the level of consultation by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council with Members of Parliament on the formulation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund bids.

Dehenna Davison: The Department has set out that Members of the UK Parliament should be closely engaged in the design and delivery of the Fund.In most cases, all MPs in the area should be invited to join a local partnership group for UKSPF. Where an authority or strategic geography is so large that this is impractical (in places like Greater Manchester), the Department has indicated that lead local authorities should invite all MPs for the place to a convened engagement group, and ensure their views are represented on the local partnership group.We have delegated responsibility for designing the fund to each lead local authority. For Tameside, this is the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which will be able to provide you with greater detail around the level of consultation and ongoing involvement in fund delivery.I would be delighted to meet to discuss this further.

Levelling Up Fund

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in what month his Department expects to announce decisions on levelling up round 2 funding.

Dehenna Davison: Levelling Up and driving growth across the UK is a key priority of this Government.All bids submitted in the second round of the Levelling Up Fund are currently being assessed in line with our published guidance. I expect that an announcement regarding allocations to the second round of the Fund will take place before the end of the year.

Historic Buildings

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure local communities have the ability to preserve buildings and landmarks of local historical significance.

Dehenna Davison: The Government recognises the importance of identifying and managing those parts of the historic environment which are valued by local communities. Plan-making bodies can therefore identify locally important heritage assets in their area. Such assets are covered by national planning policy and must be taken into account when determining planning applications. We have recently provided funding of £1.5 million to 22 areas in England to help local authorities, working with their communities, to update and develop their local heritage lists. Good practice and lessons learned from those projects will be shared with all local authorities.

Leasehold: Service Charges

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of leasehold regulation relating to service charges.

Lee Rowley: Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, service charges must be reasonable and, where costs relate to work or services, the work or services must be of a reasonable standard. Leaseholders may make an application to the appropriate tribunal to challenge the reasonableness of their service charges.We are committed to better protecting and empowering leaseholders by giving them more information on what their costs pay for. This will help them more effectively challenge their landlord if they consider their fees are unreasonable. We are due to bring forward further leasehold reforms later in this parliament.

Affordable Housing: Rural Areas

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to help ensure that people in rural communities can access affordable housing, in the context of high prices in the housing market and announcements on the abolition of affordable housing targets.

Lee Rowley: The National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. Our Rural Exception Sites policy allows for the development of small affordable housing sites in rural areas, with the majority of housing on these sites being available to local people in perpetuity. We published planning practice guidance in 2020 to help local authorities and developers bring more of these sites forward.We have not made any announcements of changes to affordable housing policy.

Capital Investment

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish his Department's assessments of the potential impact of Investment Zones on (a) local, (b) regional and (c) national growth in the UK.

Lee Rowley: Investment Zones are at an early stage of development with an expression of interest process having recently concluded. DLUHC officials are now reviewing those proposals received and will look to publish further information on Investment Zones in due course.

Capital Investment

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the announcement on 24 September 2022 of Investment Zones, (a) what measures, (b) what timetable and (c) what local authority areas he is considering for the creation of those zones; and if he will make a statement.

Lee Rowley: DLUHC officials are now assessing those proposals received from the Expression of Interest process and will look to publish further information in due course.The published guidance set out that there will be a high bar for establishing Investment Zones and the government anticipates setting up a specific number of Investment Zones where it can be demonstrated that they will have the greatest impact on growth and housing supply. The precise number of Zones will depend on factors, such as their overall geographic spread and the fiscal cost of the programme.

Local Government: Capital Investment

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he will take in the development of Investment Zones across an Upper Tier Local Authority to ensure that individual lower tier authorities are properly consulted.

Lee Rowley: This Government recognises that local consent is critical to the success of Investment Zones and will not be imposing a Zone on any area of the country.Authorities submitting an Investment Zone proposal are required to demonstrate and provide evidence that the Local Planning Authority is supportive of the proposal, and that they have consulted local stakeholders. Any proposal that does not demonstrate consent from the lower tier authority will not be taken forward from the Expression of Interest process.

Nature Conservation: Capital Investment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy to require Investment Zones to drive nature’s recovery, and communities’ access to nature-rich green space, by mandating green infrastructure and restoration in these zones; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether developments in the Government's proposed investment zones will be required to (a) ensure no net loss for nature, (b) follow International Finance Corporation's Performance Standard 6 mitigation hierarchy; and if he will make a statement.

Lee Rowley: Investment Zones are currently at an early stage of development and local authorities have been asked to express interest only in taking part at this stage.The published expression of interest guidance has been clear that applications which refuse to commit, in principle, to mitigate environmental impacts on or off site will not proceed.DLUHC officials are now assessing those proposals received and further information on the approval of Investment Zones will be forthcoming in due course.

Capital Investment: Environment Protection

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with environmental groups on his proposals to introduce Investment Zones.

Lee Rowley: The Expression of Interest for Investment Zones closed on Friday 14 October. DLUHC officials are now assessing those proposals received.We have engaged a variety of stakeholders in a variety of ways for discussion on the detail of Investment Zones and would expect to continue to do so in the weeks ahead. We are in written correspondence with environmental groups and are keen to hear their further thoughts as the proposals develop.

Shops: Solar Power

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make it his policy that large retail developments should be required to include solar farms on their roofs; and if he will publish planning guidance to this effect.

Lee Rowley: To facilitate the take up of renewable energy permitted development rights allow for the installation of solar panels on non-domestic properties without having to make a planning application. The right is subject to limitations and conditions and in the case of larger installations prior approval from the local authority is required to consider impacts such as glare.The Government is exploring ways to accelerate solar deployment in the UK, including on rooftops of commercial buildings.

Planning Inspectorate: Appeals

Sir Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what is the current backlog of appeals awaiting adjudication by the Planning Inspectorate (a) in each region and (b) nationally.

Lee Rowley: Table 1: Open appeals by region, as at 31st August 2022RegionOpen Appeals as at 31st August 2021East Midlands595East of England1,991London3,589North East172North West703South East2,762South West1,125West Midlands768Yorkshire & Humberside656No Region Recorded67Total12,428The Planning Inspectorate has 13,973 open appeals as at 31 August 2022

First Time Buyers

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has plans to help people who have bought their first home move up to the second step of the property ladder.

Lee Rowley: The Government believes that home ownership is an immensely important principle – providing security, enabling people to build capital and, vitally, to make their own choices about their lives and their futures.The Government has brought forward a range of interventions in recent years to promote home ownership and will continue to keep other opportunities under review.

Housing: Construction

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to grant local authorities the power to carry out a review of any building site where it considers that there are an excessive number of lorry movements onto that site.

Lee Rowley: Local planning authorities have broad powers to impose conditions on the grant of planning permission to help improve the quality of development and mitigate any adverse impacts. This can include, if appropriate, a condition to submit for approval of construction management plans to manage traffic and transport movements during the construction phase. Where development is not carried out in accordance with a planning condition, local planning authorities can take enforcement action to remedy a breach of planning control.

Housing: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the York Central development, for what reason lorries, rather than rail, will be used to bring materials and plant on to the site; and if he will make an assessment of the impact of those lorries on (a) congestion, (b) pollution, (c) noise and (d) the climate.

Lee Rowley: These are matters for the local planning authority to consider when determining planning applications in their area and it is inappropriate for Ministers to comment on the specifics of this development.

Housing: Construction

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities rather than developers decide the type of tenure which will apply to housing on development sites.

Lee Rowley: Our National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community and reflect this in their planning policies.

Housing: Construction

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to ensure that housing is developed to meet local needs.

Lee Rowley: The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing required to meet the needs of different groups in the community, including the need for affordable housing, and reflect this in their planning policies.

Solar Power: Agriculture

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the Government's policy is on the approval of planning applications for solar plants on agricultural land.

Lee Rowley: National planning policy is clear that local authorities should have a positive strategy in place to promote energy from renewable and low carbon sources such as solar plants.   The National Planning Policy Framework also outlines that planning decisions should “contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment” by recognising the “benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land”.   Planning guidance outlines that local planning authorities will need to consider “focussing large scale solar farms on previously developed and non agricultural land, provided that it is not of high environmental value”.

Capital Investment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential risk of (a) money laundering, (b) tax fraud and (c) other illicit financial activities operating in proposed Investment Zones.

Lee Rowley: HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling up Housing and Communities take a risk-based approach to fraud and error in meeting their policy objectives as advised by the Public Sector Fraud Authority and the National Audit Office.The Departments manage and assess fraud risk in line with current guidance in the Green Book, Managing Public Money, and the Government Functional Standard for Counter Fraud.

Housing: Construction

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of (a) the proportion of properties designed for sale to investment that are constructed on (i) greenfield and (ii) brownfield development sites and (b) the potential impact which investment property development on brownfield sites in a given area has on the likelihood that homes for (i) owner occupation and (ii) social housing will be constructed on greenfield sites in that area.

Lee Rowley: The Department does not hold this data.

Planning Inspectorate: Appeals

Sir Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the reasons for delays to decisions on planning appeals by the Planning Inspectorate; and what steps he is taking to ensure prompt and timely adjudication on those decisions.

Lee Rowley: The Planning Inspectorate has been focusing their resources on casework with the greatest potential for economic impact and those with greatest community interest: national infrastructure, local plans and appeals requiring a hearing or inquiry before decision. The remaining capacity is used for casework decided by written representations.The Inspectorate has been implementing actions to maintain performance in the areas currently performing well and to improve end-to-end times for other casework. In the short term those actions are focused around increasing capacity by:increasing the available capacity for inspectors/other decision makers by recruiting more. The Inspectorate is on track to recruit the planned 50 inspectors/other decision makers this year and are also recruiting 30 more. In the short-term, training new Inspectors reduces availability for casework;using contract (non-salaried) inspectors to the full extent of their availability and running a procurement exercise seeking to increase the pool of this resource; andtraining inspectors to handle different casework to increase flexibility.The Inspectorate is also part way through a major investment programme which will support significant improvements to ways of working as well as providing a significantly improved customer experience.

Women and Equalities

STEM Returners Programme

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much funding has been allocated to the STEM returners programme.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what parameters his Department has set for the returners programme for STEM announced on 8 March 2022; and if he will publish his strategy to deliver it.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how long the STEM returners programme will run.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which suppliers have been contracted to deliver the STEM returners programme.

Katherine Fletcher: The STEM returners programme announced on International Women’s Day will encourage those who have taken breaks to care for others back into STEM - giving them the opportunity to refresh and grow their skills in sectors where their talents are most needed. This pilot will build on previous Government returner initiatives, and will seek to address the barriers that returners face when re-entering the workplace. It will help organisations to recruit and retain talented staff who are often overlooked because of a gap on their CV.Procurement of a supplier to deliver the pilot is expected to launch shortly. Information on the available funding and the expected length of the programme will be released when the procurement is launched. A formal evaluation will be conducted alongside the pilot programme to build the evidence base for what works for returners and employers.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Redundancy

Dr Rupa Huq: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will undertake a review of the Government’s plan to cut 19,000 jobs from the civil service over the next 3 years.

Chris Philp: The Government is firmly committed to the delivery of high quality public services at an affordable cost. Earlier this year, the former Prime Minister tasked Secretaries of State and Permanent Secretaries to work together on producing a plan for returning the Civil Service workforce numbers to 2016 levels over the next three years. This work remains ongoing and, as plans are still in development, no decisions have yet been made.

Boris Johnson

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what basis legal advice was commissioned on the Committee of Privileges investigation into the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Chris Philp: The Privileges Committee inquiry relates to the conduct of the (now former) Prime Minister making statements at the dispatch box on behalf of HM Government.There is an established precedent across multiple administrations that former Ministers may be supported with legal representation after they have left office when matters relate to their time and conduct as a Minister.The Committee’s inquiry also has potential implications for all future statements by Ministers of the Crown in current and future Administrations. The Government has a direct interest in these matters.

DNA: Screening

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of developing regulations to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA synthetic screening.

Chris Philp: In the Integrated Review the Government committed to review and reinforce the cross-government approach to biosecurity. The refreshed UK Biological Security Strategy (BSS), due to be published in late 2022, will outline the 2030 Vision for biological security and the outcomes and deliverables to achieve this vision. Both the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been integral to developing the refreshed strategy and will be key implementation leads for commitments. The BSS will outline the UK Government’s ambition and priorities for responsible innovation, including to safeguard against the mis-use of DNA screening.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on taxi cabs for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each of the last three years.

Mr Steve Baker: My Department has spent to following on taxi cab travel: MinistersStaffFinancial Year 2019/20Nil£4,425.14Financial Year 2020/21Nil£43.34Financial Year 2021/22Nil£728.73

Human Rights: Ireland

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the debate entitled The impact of Brexit on human rights on the island of Ireland, which took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 13 October 2022.

Mr Steve Baker: The UK has a proud record of complying with its international obligations, and of the promotion and defence of human rights across the world. The Government is firmly committed to Article 2 of the Protocol which ensures no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity protections set out in the relevant chapter of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

War Memorials Trust: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer given on 4 July 2022 to Question 26055, on War Memorials Trust: Northern Ireland, if he will meet with the Minister for Communities to discuss (a) how to fulfil the commitment set out in the New Decade, New Approach document and (b) how to ensure that the War Memorials Trust is better promoted and understood in Northern Ireland.

Mr Steve Baker: I am always happy to meet with Northern Ireland Ministers to discuss areas of joint interest. As highlighted in the answer given on 4 July 2022 to Question 26055, my Officials have already been engaging with the Department of Communities on the approach to this commitment.

Department for International Trade

Riot Control Weapons: Iran

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether any of the equipment used by Iranian authorities in response to ongoing protests in that country was (a) manufactured in the UK or (b) exported from the UK.

Sir James Duddridge: The Department for International Trade has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Trade with EU

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether officials from her Department have had discussions with representatives of companies that have stopped trading with the European Union since the end of the Brexit transition period on the reasons behind those business decisions; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Fysh: The Department for International Trade remains committed to listening to a wide range of voices to ensure our trade policy delivers for the whole of the UK, including businesses. We have established an extensive stakeholder engagement framework allowing business and stakeholders the opportunity to feed into our trade policy. In addition, the Export Support Service (ESS), has helped over 11,500 UK businesses trade with Europe. ESS has also contacted businesses that have stopped trading with the EU to make them aware of support available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Streaming: Classification Schemes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to encourage more video on demand services to adopt British Board of Film Classification age ratings.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the anticipated media legislation will introduce measures to ensure that age ratings used by video on demand services are (a) widely recognised, (b) based on transparent standards and (c) informed by UK public opinion.

Julia Lopez: Following public consultation on video-on-demand regulation, the government continues to view the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) age ratings as best practice. As set out in the government’s consultation response, the government is keen to encourage video-on-demand services to consider applying BBFC age ratings to their content, but is of the view that the existing evidence does not warrant mandating the use of age ratings at this time.Alongside improved Ofcom protections for video-on-demand audiences, the government has set out plans to give Ofcom an enhanced ongoing duty to assess all video-on-demand providers’ audience protection measures, including measures like pin codes and content warnings alongside age ratings, to ensure that the systems put in place are effective and fit for purpose. Ofcom will have powers to provide guidance, report, and deal effectively with any future rogue providers.

BT Group: Staff

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what requirements if any are placed on BT-operated call centres for emergency services in relation to pastoral support for call centre workers exposed to traumatic situations through their work.

Julia Lopez: His Majesty’s Government appreciates the vital role that BT call handlers provide in taking emergency calls from the public and connecting them to the emergency authorities. BT acts as the Call Handling Agent on behalf of communication providers. The Government cannot comment on internal arrangements of a private company such as BT Group, but that BT may be able to assist with the enquiry.

Broadcasting: Scots Gaelic Language

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing a statutory footing for Gaelic language broadcasting in the forthcoming Media Bill.

Julia Lopez: The Government recognises the incredibly valuable contribution MG ALBA makes to the lives and wellbeing of Gaelic speakers across Scotland and the UK as a whole, including through its partnership with the BBC in providing BBC ALBA. This contribution has been made since MG ALBA was originally established as the Gaelic Television Committee under the Broadcasting Act 1990. The current partnership between the BBC and MG ALBA must ensure high quality, diverse Gaelic language content continues to be readily available so that Gaelic culture is protected in the years to come.As part of the changes described in our Broadcasting White Paper, Up Next, we intend, for the first time, to make the importance of programmes broadcast in the UK’s indigenous regional and minority languages – including the Gaelic language – clear in legislation, by including it in our new public service remit for television. This will enhance the statutory footing that already exists for the Gaelic language.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Taxis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department spent on taxi cabs for (a) ministers and (b) civil servants in each of the last three years.

Julia Lopez: Between January and December 2020, £4,513.25 was spent on taxi cabs for Ministers using the DCMS Expenses System and Government Procurement Cards. £6,601.40 was spent on taxi cabs by civil servants.Between January and December 2021, £1,429.91 was spent on taxi cabs for Ministers using the DCMS Expenses System and Government Procurement Cards. £4,455.59 was spent on taxi cabs by civil servants.From January 2022 to present, £1,659.10 has been spent on taxi cabs for Ministers using the DCMS Expenses System and Government Procurement Cards. £23,014.25 has been spent on taxi cabs by civil servants.

TikTok: Data Protection

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Information Commissioner's Office on the reported breach of data protection law by Tiktok in respect of the processing the data of children; and if she will make a statement.

Julia Lopez: The ICO is an independent regulator and we cannot comment on ongoing enforcement action. The Information Commissioner is accountable to Parliament in how it exercises its functions.The Secretary of State will meet with the Information Commissioner in the coming months.

Television Licences: Non-payment

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many people were convicted for not paying their TV license under the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 since 1992.

Julia Lopez: The requirement to hold, and pay for, a TV Licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004.Parliament approved the BBC assuming the role of the TV Licensing Authority in 1991, and under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC is authorised to collect and enforce the Licence Fee by law on the government's behalf.The TV licence fee was administered under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 until the passage of the 2003 Act.The Ministry of Justice currently publishes the number of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees annually as part of their criminal justice statistics quarterly publications, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterlyFigures for each year since 2005 up to 2021 are available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool, and can be found in the following tables:2017-2021: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1076459/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2021-v2.xlsx2016: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1063880/outcomes-by-offence-2020-revised.xlsx2005-2015: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524326/cjs-outcomes-by-offence.xlsxTo view the relevant figures in these tables, select ‘191A Television licence evasion’ in the Offence filter.The number of people convicted for TV licence evasion in the years between 1992 and 2004 can be found in the attached tables. Table 1 sets out the number of convictions for television licence evasion in this period under the Communications Act 2003. Table 2 sets out convictions for offences against the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1949 to 1967 in the same period. While television licence evasion was an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, the figures in Table 2 may include other offences under the specified Acts.

Video Games: Investment

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a video games investment fund.

Julia Lopez: The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s games sector. As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the Government has committed to an £8 million expansion of the UK Games Fund. The UK Games Fund will continue to provide valuable support to early-stage games development and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games.We are not seeking to take forward a proposal for a new Video Games Investment Fund. We welcome continued discussions with the games industry on how best to support a thriving UK games sector.

Media

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made on bringing forward a Media Bill.

Julia Lopez: The Media Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech in May 2022. The Government will introduce this legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Television Licences: Older People

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will undertake a review of the provisions of the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 on the eligibility criteria for a concessionary TV licence for people over the age of 60 and living in sheltered accommodation with more than one room.

Julia Lopez: TV Licence concessions are available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, people living in qualifying residential care who are disabled or over 60 years old, and people aged 75 and over in receipt of Pension Credit.The Government has committed to maintain the licence fee model for the remainder of this Charter Period. The Government is not considering making any changes to the current concessions regime at this time. Issues around fairness and people’s ability to pay for the Licence Fee are issues we will consider as part of the upcoming review of the Licence Fee, as well as at Charter Review.

Video Games: Industry

Jack Brereton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate she has made of the contribution to economic growth of the video games industry; and what steps the Government is taking to support the UK video games industry.

Julia Lopez: The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector and we recognise that video games bring economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK. The video games industry trade body Ukie has estimated the value of the consumer games market at £7.16 billion in 2021, more than doubling in value since 2013.As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the Government is delivering an £8 million expansion of the UK Games Fund. This will provide valuable support to early stage game development businesses and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games. The Video Games Tax Relief has supported £5.1 billion of UK expenditure on 1,940 games since its introduction in 2014.

Broadband: Households

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of households unable to afford broadband.

Julia Lopez: In September, Ofcom published their latest Affordability Report which found that 5% of UK households faced an affordability issue with their fixed broadband in the month of August. While this figure has remained static since Ofcom’s previous report in March, we know that many households are struggling with their monthly broadband bills during this difficult time.In June, we secured a set of public commitments from the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers to support families through the global rise in the cost of living. These commitments include more manageable payment plans, switching to a cheaper package free-of-charge, or taking a more affordable broadband social tariff if the customer is eligible. We encourage people to contact their provider to see what support is available.

Broadband

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises have been connected via the Superfast Broadband Programme since 2020.

Julia Lopez: Since its recent establishment as an Executive Agency, Building Digital UK will report on its performance and spending annually, alongside the publication of quarterly delivery updates highlighting the progress of Project Gigabit.In BDUK’s most recent Performance Report, we reported that over 625,000 premises have received a gigabit-capable connection as a result of the Superfast Broadband Programme. 95,300 premises were passed between April 2021 and March 2022, and 529,900 had previously been passed by 31 March 2021.

Newspapers

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps her Department has taken to help support the (a) publication and (b) distribution of print editions of local and regional newspapers.

Julia Lopez: The Government is committed to supporting local newspapers as vital pillars of our communities. We are in regular contact with local news publishers to understand the financial pressures they face, and we are mindful of particular concerns about rising printing costs, brought about primarily by higher energy prices, as well as by the increasing cost of raw materials including newsprint.Last month, the government introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which provides a price reduction to ensure that all businesses and other non-domestic customers, including newspaper printing sites, are protected from excessively high energy bills over the winter period. We are engaging with the sector to monitor the impact of this support, mindful of the review of the Scheme which will consider how best to offer further support to customers who are the most vulnerable to energy price increases.We are also taking other action to support the sector, including in the digital sphere, where many newspaper publishers face significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models. Our plans for a pro-competition regime for digital markets will, among many other things, help to rebalance the relationship between news publishers and online platforms. We have also provided tax reliefs and innovation funding to the sector. And the BBC Charter Mid Term Review will evaluate how the BBC and Ofcom assess the market impact and public value of the BBC in an evolving marketplace and how that relates to the wider UK media ecology, including with regard to the local news sector. We will continue to consider all possible options in the interest of promoting and sustaining the sector.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Expenditure

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the annual spend is for (a) Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, (b) Natural History Museum at Harwell, (c) 4th National Lottery Licence Competition, (d) Local Full Fibre Networks, (e) Shared Rural Network, (f) UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, (g) Blythe House Programme and (h) Project Gigabit in each of the financial years from 2022-23 until the end year of each project, providing resource and capital spending.

Julia Lopez: (£m) ResourceCapital22-2323-2424-2522-2323-2424-25Birmingham Commonwealth Games396.4  Natural History Museum Harwell (Unlocked)   17.134.474.1Total funding for the programme agreed at SR21 is £182m.4th National Lottery Licence Competition22.722.810.1-0.0-Does not include expected costs following legal challenge. Funding not scored at the Spending Review as costs relating to the 4th Licence are funded from the National Lottery Distribution Fund.Local Full Fibre Networks  Programme closed in 2022 and therefore there is no funding in this Spending Review period.Shared Rural Network3.76.18.418.356.387.1Total funding announced for the programme is £1bn, made up of £500m Government funding matched by the private sector.UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK58.0  Blythe House16.02.7 10.04.0  Project Gigabit39.140.641.3157.3381.7437.8Total funding for the programme agreed at SR21 is £5bn.All figures relate to funding profiles, actual expenditure may vary and will be reported through the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts. Funding and expenditure profiles beyond 24-25 will be subject to the next Spending Review. The figures included are as agreed at Spending Review 2021.

ICT: Skilled Workers

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of the level of IT skills possessed by the workforce in (a) the UK and (b) other members of the G7.

Damian Collins: The latest economic statistics show that there are now 1.81 million people working in the Digital Sector in the UK. The number of people working in digital occupations, which require advanced digital (i.e. IT) skills such as computer programming, has increased by 54% since September 2020.Digital skills covers a broad range of competencies, knowledge and skills. DCMS commissioned research found that over 83% of job adverts require digital skills, which includes baseline digital skills such as using productivity software tools, as well as specialist digital skills such as programming and data science.Countries adopt different approaches to evaluating the level of digital skills possessed by their workforces. Comparative data from the World Economic Forum indicates that digital skills among the active population in the UK is 58%, placing the UK 4th relative to other members of the G7.

COP26

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Alex Norris: To ask the President of COP26, with reference to his role as chair of the Climate Action Implementation Cabinet Committee, what steps the Government will take to meet its Net Zero targets.

Alok Sharma: I am the chair of the Climate Action Implementation Cabinet Committee, which is responsible for considering matters relating to the delivery of the United Kingdom’s domestic and international climate strategy.This government remains committed to net zero. It is important that we deliver a managed energy transition that protects energy security and does not place undue burdens on businesses or consumers. Chris Skidmore MP will therefore lead a rapid review of the government’s approach to net zero, to ensure we deliver our legally-binding target in a way that is pro-business and pro-growth.

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Consultants

Neale Hanvey: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if he will publish a breakdown of the (a) amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) name of each consultancy contracted and (c) specific matters on which they were consulted.

Sir Charles Walker: Due to a change in IPSA’s financial systems, it is technically highly difficult for IPSA to provide the information in the detail requested for the previous five years. In its annual accounts, however, IPSA have presented annual expenditure on consultancy, including £55k for 2017-18 (Human Resources advice, reviews and surveys: £11,000, Information Technology projects: £37,000, and IPSA Online project: £7,000). For 2018-19, the figure was £315k (Human Resources advice, reviews and surveys: £18,000, Implementation of GDPR legislation: £40,000, Information Technology projects: £44,000, and IPSA Online project: £213,000). For 2019-20, the figure was £300k (Organisational improvements for the Chief Executive’s Office: £43,000, System maintenance and continuous improvement programme: £182,000, Organisational redesign by the HR department: £60,000, Business Support to MP Support and general professional advice: £15,000). For 2020-21, the figure was £530k (Organisational redesign work: £206,000, Business and technical support and general professional advice: £200,000, System maintenance and continuous improvement programme: £123,000, and Professional Advice to Compliance Office: £1,000). For 2021-22, the figure was £263k (Organisational redesign work: £161,000, Business and technical support and general professional advice: £39,000, System maintenance and continuous improvement programme: £56,000, and Governance: £7,000).The delay in providing a response to this Question was due to an administrative error in the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Written Questions

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to Named Day Question 33681 on Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Written Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Warley on 11 July 2022 for written answer on 14 July 2022, when he plans to answer Question 6697 tabled by the hon. Member for Warley on 23 May 2022.

Sir Charles Walker: The delay in providing responses to Questions 6697, 33681, 42245 and 45520 was due to an administrative error in the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Written Questions

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, when a response will be received to Question 6697 tabled by the hon. Member for Warley on 23 May 2022.

Sir Charles Walker: The delay in providing responses to Questions 6697, 33681, 42245 and 45520 was due to an administrative error in the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the annual (a) rent and (b) other charges are for the IPSA premises at 85 Strand, London; how many staff are employed at that premises; and if he will make an estimate of how many and what proportion of those staff have worked from those offices in the last 12 months.

Sir Charles Walker: IPSA incurred costs of 508k on rent, rates, and service charges in the 2020-21 financial year. In 2021-22, this figure was 367k. IPSA currently has 97 contracted employees, of which 68% (66) are on office-based contracts and (32%) 31 are on home-based contracts. The difficult times brought about by the pandemic brought forward IPSA’s plans to create a more representative national organisation which better reflects the nations, regions, and constituencies our MPs serve. Recruiting staff from across the UK without the necessity of living within commuting distance of central London has delivered a more inclusive and diverse workforce, well-positioned to deliver services locally without the need for lengthy travel from London. Of the 66 employees on office-based contracts, all 66 have worked at some point in the past 12 months at the premises. The data for all 97 staff members, regardless of their contract type, also indicates that 100% of employees have worked from the premises at some point over the last 12 months.The delay in providing a response to this Question was due to an administrative error in the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.

Prime Minister

Departmental Responsibilities

John Healey: To ask the Prime Minister, whether she has any plans to appoint a dedicated Space Minister.

Elizabeth Truss: My hon. Friend, the Member for Wealden (Nusrat Ghani), is the Minister of State (Minister for Science and Investment Security) at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and has responsibility for these matters. A summary of her responsibilities can be found on gov.uk here: Minister of State (Minister for Science and Investment Security) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

First Minister of Wales

Ruth Jones: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times she has (a) met and (b) spoken to the First Minister of Wales since 6 September 2022.

Elizabeth Truss: I most recently met the First Minister of Wales at the Service of Reflection for the Life of Her late Majesty The Queen at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff on 16 September. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales, most recently met the First Minister of Wales at the opening of South Wales Police Learning Centre on 30 September.

Republic of Ireland: Foreign Relations

Ruth Jones: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times she has (a) met and (b) spoken to the Taoiseach since 6 September 2022.

Elizabeth Truss: I refer the hon. Member to the details of my official meetings, which can be found on gov.uk at:PM call with Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 9 September 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)PM meetings with foreign leaders: 17 and 18 September 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)I also met the Taoiseach at the Service of Reflection for the Life of Her late Majesty The Queen in St. Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, on 13 September.